September 2022 – Simone’s Kids

Satterfields Return to Uganda

Mason and Morgan Satterfield are heading back to Uganda! After taking some time in the states to welcome their baby, Zeke, they are officially transitioning back to the place their hearts call home. For those who do not know, Mason has served with Simone’s Kids since 2012 and Morgan since 2014. They are so excited to continue investing in the community of Nakaseke. The Satterfields have significantly impacted Simone’s Kids’ growth over the years and proven to be a constant positive influence on the students in both primary and secondary. Our organization cannot wait to see how the Lord will continue to use them in this ministry!

As they return, Mason will take over a new position: Child Scholarship and Business Manager. The Scholarship Manager is responsible for ensuring the successful implementation and maintenance of Simone’s Kids Scholarship Program. Mason will be directly working with students and their families to help aid the vision and mission of Simone’s Kids in the Nakaseke community. Over the years, Mason has built deep relationships with the students and the local community; therefore, we believe he will be a great asset to our scholarship program and ensure it continues running effectively.

The Satterfields are set to be onsite by the end of September. Their move back to Uganda means we will have four missionaries serving together in the Nakaseke community. As an organization, we are thankful that we get to send faithful stewards to serve and make an eternal impact in God’s Kingdom. Join us in praying for the Satterfields as they travel and settle in as a family of 3 in Nakaseke, Uganda!

September 19, 2022/0 Comments

School Attendance in Uganda vs. the World

News

In the US, Europe, and other high-income parts of the world, students are returning to school as a predictable matter of course. Yet in many low-income countries, and particularly in sub-Saharan African countries like Uganda, going back to school is far from a given for millions of primary and secondary school students. Here’s a look at how Ugandan school attendance rates compare to global ones.

Uganda’s School Attendance Rates

Even before the pandemic, Uganda had some of the lowest school attendance rates in the world. When its schools opened after the world’s longest pandemic lockdown—1 year and 7 months—attendance worsened significantly due to events that had befallen students in the meantime. Here are some helpful things to know about school attendance in Uganda:

Although pre-pandemic primary school attendance was fairly high (95% as 2013), secondary school attendance was lower, at only 34% in the same year.
During school closures, up to a third of students got jobs or became pregnant and are now unlikely to complete their secondary school education.
As of June 2022, secondary school attendance rates were only at 25%

Global School Attendance Rates

Here are some facts about global school attendance to compare with Uganda’s:

Before the pandemic (as of 2018), the average global primary school attendance rate was 89%, and the secondary school attendance rate was 66.27%.
As of 2019, more than half of primary school-aged children who dropped out of school lived in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2021, only about 67% of lower secondary school students (aged 12-16) in the world were attending school, and only 50% of upper secondary school students (aged 16-19) attended school or college.
At the height of pandemic-related global school closures, 1.6 billion students were out of school. Of those, half (810 million) lived in low-income countries.
As of 2022, over 888 million children worldwide are still facing disruptions in their education due to full and partial school lockdowns.

Support Ugandan Students With Simone’s Kids

You can help improve school attendance rates for Ugandans by supporting schools and education programs, which provide children with the tools they need to build a more promising future. Simone’s Kids in Nakaseke, Uganda provides education and meets basic needs for children in order to help them break the cycle of poverty.

You can maximize your impact with recurring donations to Simone’s Kids by joining The Village. The Village is a passionate group of donors committed to bettering the lives of children in Uganda by making monthly donations that help to provide better meals, more teachers, more activities, and even post-graduation services.

You can also make a difference by shopping at the Simone’s Kids Store or donating to Simone’s Kids. Your gifts help purchase school supplies, textbooks, food, and other necessities for Ugandan students. Consider doubling your contribution by asking if your employer participates in a donation match. Give today!

September 6, 2022/0 Comments

Attending School Keeps Ugandan Girls Safer

News

Ugandan girls are far likelier than boys to drop out of school for many reasons, such as poverty (elevating the need to work or marry for money), domestic labor burdens, and lack of access to girls-only restrooms and hygienic supplies. Girls in rural areas are even more likely to leave school early. Yet staying in school can help female students avoid a host of dangerous outcomes: illiteracy, unplanned pregnancy and single motherhood, unemployment, lack of access to school-sponsored health services, and child trafficking.

How School Attendance Helps Keep Ugandan Girls From Being Trafficked

As of 2018, over 2 million Ugandan children were involved in child labor, often as the result of human trafficking in Uganda. Child labor rates increased during pandemic school lockdowns, including the number of girls trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation.

However, keeping girls in school and providing the support they need to stay there can keep them safe from human traffickers and other dangers because of the following factors:

Girls in school are watched over by teachers and school administrators rather than being alone out in their communities, where they are more vulnerable
They are located in a space exclusively for children and teachers, where human traffickers cannot easily follow them
Greater levels of education help girls to make informed decisions about their lives and bodies
The more education girls attain, the more earning potential they have (10–25% more for each year of school), which can motivate them to stay in school and focus on a career rather than dropping out and becoming vulnerable to exploitation

In addition, educating families and children about the dangers of human trafficking can help keep students in school and make them less likely to be lured or coerced into this industry.

Help Protect Female Ugandan Students With Simone’s Kids

You can help improve school attendance rates for Ugandans—especially for girls—by supporting schools and education programs, which provide children with the tools they need to build a more promising future. Simone’s Kids in Nakaseke, Uganda provides education and meets basic needs for children in order to help them break the cycle of poverty.