Objective  Ugandan Orphans Fund

In December, 2006 the Children of Hope program was started in Lira, northern Uganda to help the orphans victimized by the brutal Lord's Resistance Army. This conflict has afflicted the Acholi people for over 20 years. Villages were burned and children stolen by the LRA to be child soldiers or bush wives. Many children who either lost parents killed by the LRA or who have escaped capture, or both, are living in extreme poverty in Internally Displaced Persond camps in Lira and the surrounding area. Funding for the initial trauma healing training for these children was given by Bill and Rosemarie McMechan, two dedicated Canadian Quakers.

These young people, traumatized by Lord's Resistance Army atrocities, want only to move on with their lives and go to school.  But school fees in Uganda, as much as $470 a year for Secondary school, are well beyond the reach of these impoverished children.

Here's where you can help. $118 keeps a child in Primary day school for one whole year. $470 will keep a child at their studies in a Secondary boarding school for one whole year. 

In March, 2007, Esther Atoo, the dedicated social worker Director of the project, selected the first 43 children to receive Canadian sponsors.  They would gather on Saturdays for a hot meal, games, books, pens, pencils, soap, counselling and encouragement. Esther and her social worker assistant, Doris Apio also make school and home visits to check on the welfare of these children.

By November, 2008, 120 more children were added to the project for a current total of 163 children. Esther travels to the 10 Primary schools and 21 Secondary schools to pay school fees for the children, ranging in age from 8 to 16, from grades 4 to 9.

School fees are the biggest problem for these children, as even those with a surviving parent, are too poor to pay their own fees. The Principals of their schools simply will not admit the children without fees being paid.

School fees often include cement, bags of food, exam fees, holiday coaching as well as reams of paper, exercise books, pens and math sets. Esther has purchased 150 school uniforms @ $9.00 each.She gathers the children at the start of each term in Feb. May and Sept to distribute scholastic materials. A Ministry of Education official greets the children and encourages them in their studies.

Due to Esther's careful budgeting and the generosity of sponsors, the Fund has been able to pay the  fees for 20 Secondary (Grade 8) boading students, 19 Primary boarding students, 43 Primary day students. That is partial fee payment for 82 students.

But there are still 81 children who only receive the school supplies, with no help for their school fees. And the next school fees for the 82 children already receiving support will be due the first of May, 2009.

Can you help?

Ugandan orphans Fund just published on Oprah's Angel Network.

Lorna speaks to 2.0 Television about her Project at the Miss Toronto and Miss Tourism Canada pageant: