Schools in Uganda reopened this week after the world's longest recorded school closure. The impact of the 83 weeks away from the classroom is already destroying children’s futures.

The poorest and most vulnerable families in the slums of Kampala have lost what little income they had, due to three strict, consecutive lock downs.

Girls like Jane are especially vulnerable and unlikely to be able to return to school.
Her guardian (her aunt) lost her job during the first lockdown and she is now helping to support they family:

“I have two options; I spend all day to find work washing clothes. If I am lucky I can earn 900 shilling (0.20p). There are many days we go hungry. The second option is I join other girls in sex work. I thought I could make it through until schools reopened. That was my hope. They say they will open next week but now I can’t see how I can ever get back. That part of my life is closing”.

Education represents the only way out of a life of entrenched poverty and potential exploitation.
But the cost of uniforms, text books and pens means that education is now out of reach for more girls than ever before.

We need to act now to save lives and avoid the loss of such hard-won gains for women’s rights.

There are of course many, many girls with more complex needs and challenges than the cost of the uniform or a pen we are working on programmes to make sure they are not left behind.

Right now, we have an immediate and urgent for need for this support.

A donation right now could provide a uniform or school starter pack - ensuring she is ready to return and complete her study as soon as possible!

The impact of your gift will reach far into the future by helping to smash down the barriers that are stopping girls getting the education they are entitled to and reaching their full potential.

Key costs:

£56 could by a full school uniform for one girl

£15 could by sanitary towels - because too often girls miss school simply because they can't afford sanitary towels.

£30 could by a School starter pack for one girl (bag, pens, exercise books, study equipment)

Key facts:

50% of the total loss of income due to COVID 19 in Uganda happened in Kampala within the informal small enterprise sector which is dominated by women & young girls

60% of girls in the slums have experienced sexual violence during lockdown

The drop out rate has increased to more than 75% at Primary level in Kawempe

Although there is universal free Primary education in Uganda, in reality the cost of uniforms, pens, books and even sanitary items mean that its now out of reach of even more children

*Jane's name was changed to protect her identity