Give the Gift of School Supplies to Ugandan Students

Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 to offer philanthropic balance to the consumerist American tradition of Black Friday, which kicks off the holiday shopping season. If you participate in this tradition of giving, congratulations: you are making the holidays more meaningful for yourself and the communities you support. Still, it can be challenging to decide which causes to support each year. 

If that’s the case, it may help to know that the gift of education really does keep on giving, and donating funds for school supplies can put the students who need them most on a life-changing path to success. Here’s why you should consider giving the gift of school supplies to Ugandan students this year:

  • Relieve the cost burden of education. Low-income families frequently find the cost of education for their children prohibitive, even in tuition-free schools. That’s because the cost of school supplies (uniforms, books, writing tools, paper, and more) adds up quickly, particularly in large families with several children. Relieving this cost helps families to give their children a better start in life. 
  • Reduce high dropout rates. Many Ugandan students drop out of school before they have even completed their primary education (for ages 6-13), or during secondary school (for ages 13-19). There are many reasons for this, but financial concerns are a major contributor. This means that donations to school supply funds can help significantly in increasing the likelihood that children will stay in school.
  • Help to break the cycle of poverty. Because completing a formal education is key to qualifying for high-quality jobs and escaping poverty, Ugandan students who are forced to drop out—through no fault of their own—frequently become trapped in low-income occupations. If they cannot afford to send their own children to school, the cycle begins again. Helping to keep children in school gives them a better chance to break this cycle and live healthier, more productive lives.
  • Give girls more life choices. Uganda has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the world. Helping girls stay in school significantly reduces their risk of unintended pregnancy and premature marriage, which in turn reduces their dependence on men for income. Completing their education allows girls to delay marriage, have careers, and gain more control over their lives and health. Donated school supplies can go a long way toward helping them achieve this.

The Gift of Education for Ugandan Children Lasts a Lifetime

Simone’s Kids in Nakaseke, Uganda provides education and meets basic needs for children in order to help them break the cycle of poverty. Your donations help purchase nutritious food, school supplies, textbooks, and other necessities for Ugandan students.

It’s time for our annual Classroom for Christmas drive! Join us in giving back this holiday season with gifts that provide hope to our students in Uganda. Make a difference by shopping at the Simone’s Kids Store or donating to Simone’s Kids today!

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Share Your Feast with Ugandans This Thanksgiving

Every year, on the fourth Thursday in November, Americans everywhere gather to share plentiful and even extravagant feasts with friends and family. Afterward, people loosen their belts and resolve to undo the damage of saturated fats, sugars, and over-processed carbohydrates with more exercise and healthier foods. That’s because despite being among the most obese populations in the world, many Americans have abundant food choices and easy access to information about good nutrition.

Yet in sub-Saharan African countries like Uganda, there is often little opportunity for either gluttonous feasting or well-informed choices where essential nutrients are concerned. Here are some things to know about malnutrition in Uganda and how you can help children there to build healthier lives and brighter futures.

Malnutrition in Uganda

One of the biggest threats to children in Uganda today is the cycle of malnutrition and infection. Of children who are under 5 years of age, 53% have anemia, 29% have stunted growth, and 11% have abnormally low weight. Of girls and women who can become pregnant, 32% have anemia and 9% are underweight. These groups are at risk of having babies with low birth weight, which predisposes their children to malnutrition as well. When underweight babies and children develop infections, their risk of stunted growth increases even further.

As of 2015, about half of all child deaths in Uganda were caused by malnutrition and stunting. This stems in part from food insecurity and disease as well as barriers to clean water and sanitation. However, inadequate access to education—including an understanding of basic nutrition—are also major contributors. In fact, data shows that the more education a mother attains, the less likely her child is to suffer from malnutrition and stunting. 

Removing barriers to education can not only help to keep children and mothers healthier, but give Ugandans the means to escape poverty and build healthier, more productive communities.

You Can Help To End Malnutrition in Uganda This Thanksgiving

You can help to improve nutrition and overall quality of life for Ugandans by supporting schools and education programs, which provide children with the tools they need to build a more promising future. This Thanksgiving, consider donating to nonprofit organizations that work to keep Ugandan children in school while meeting their essential nutritional and health needs. Many organizations have simple, user-friendly online donation platforms. As you’re recovering from your Thanksgiving feast, grab a mobile device and share your bounty with Ugandans.

Prevent Malnutrition for Ugandans With Simone’s Kids

Simone’s Kids in Nakaseke, Uganda provides education and meets basic needs for children in order to help them break the cycle of poverty. Your donations help purchase nutritious food, school supplies, textbooks, and other necessities for Ugandan students.

It’s time for our annual Classroom for Christmas drive! Join us in giving back this holiday season with gifts that provide hope to our students in Uganda. Make a difference by shopping at the Simone’s Kids Store or donating to Simone’s Kids today!

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The Muslim-Christian Conflict in Uganda

In many countries, religious conflicts are almost inseparable from complex political ones; religious conflict in Africa is no exception, and Uganda is a major example of this. Christianity is the dominant religion in Uganda, with 82% of citizens identifying as Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Pentecostal Christian. About 14% of the population is Muslim; most are Sunni, but there is a small number of Shia Muslims in Kampala and eastern Uganda. Here are some important things to be aware of regarding Muslim-Christian animosity in Uganda.

The Islamic State and Alliance of Democratic Forces vs. Christian Uganda

Since the late 1990s, a number of Muslim extremists have been kidnapping and killing Christian groups in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of an effort to amass more Islamic converts and gain political power. Many are part of the Alliance of Democratic Forces (ADF), a transnational insurgent group that declared allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in 2019. The ADF seeks to establish Sharia law and overthrow the Ugandan government, which itself has strong ties to the Anglican Church (Church of Uganda).

The Impact of Conflicts on Ugandan Christians and Children

Recently, there have been attacks on Christians during evangelical gatherings, leading Christians in eastern Uganda to plead for governmental protection. The Ugandan population as a whole has also suffered from other historic and current violent political conflicts, epidemics, and a weakened economy. 

Combined with the global pandemic, these factors threaten the health and futures of Uganda’s children, leaving them vulnerable to poverty and violence. Keeping Ugandan students in school is key to keeping them safe and offering hope for a better future.

The Gift of Education for Ugandan Children Lasts a Lifetime

You can help improve the quality of life 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. Your donations help purchase school supplies, textbooks, food, and other necessities for Ugandan students.

It’s time for our annual Classroom for Christmas drive! Join us in giving back this holiday season with gifts that provide hope to our students in Uganda. Make a difference by shopping at the Simone’s Kids Store or donating to Simone’s Kids today!

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