Beyond the village

What is the future of Uganda? The future of Uganda is today’s children. And today’s children don’t have the governmental support they need to receive a good education to enable them to be the change. The population of Uganda is over 41 million. Compare this to the 4.6 million in New Zealand. And Uganda as a country is only just bigger than NZ. With over 41 million people living within one country, you can imagine the poverty and slum conditions that majority of the children are raised in. My name is Maria, I’m 18 years old, I finished high school last year, was raised in our beautiful New Zealand, and spent the first half of this year working and saving to fund this trip. I have spent the last month volunteering in a primary school in a low income area in Kampala, Uganda. I have formed deep friendships with the children at this school and have heard them tell me their aspirations and dreams that lie far beyond the village they live in. But the reality for these children sounds more like staying at home after finishing high school, raising their younger siblings while their parents work, and then caring for their parents as they age. There is no government funded healthcare system for the elderly, no funding for cancer patients or sick children, and because of this, life becomes a game of survival. Because of the lack of systems in place, job opportunities are at an extreme low if you aren’t well qualified. To give you some perspective, a qualified teacher here working in a higher decile school earns 200,000 Ugandan shillings or LESS per MONTH. This is $50 USD equivalent. Per month.... I could earn that in less than 6 hours of waitressing in New Zealand. Does this blow your mind as much as it does mine? $82 per month to pay off student debt, and pay for housing, food, and also support your younger siblings and aging parents. (If you get a job, supporting your younger siblings, parents, and extended family is a part of the culture here. The sense of community responsibility is beyond anything I’ve ever known).

The children I spend my days with and teach are the most intelligent, independent, morally strong, and courageous young people. The sense of work ethic, togetherness, and tenacity they have could take them so far in improving the future for their own children and their country if they just had the opportunity. My goal and our goal as a school at Green Gates Junior School is to provide scholarships to children living in poverty. A scholarship funded through this page that will provide them with school fees, nutritious meals, encouragement and communication with role models so that they can nurture and grow their gifts, talents, and passions.

Don’t let what I’ve said about the job crisis and low wages here discourage you from helping to make a change to one childs world, and giving them the opportunity to have education, follow passions, and get a job. This child will inspire and provide for his or her extended family and surrounding community. The chain reaction continues and this is how a more positive future is developed. Today 6 year old Zion told me he wanted to be a doctor when he got older ‘so I can help kill the malaria disease in babies’. Georgina told me she wanted to be a science teacher, and Emmaline told me she wanted to be a mummy with lots of children. These children are real, they are here, their hearts are huge and their country needs them.

We get told about these third world issues from a very young age, we get spoken to in assemblies and see it in the news. But please let it sink in, please realise how deeply blessed with opportunity you are if you live in New Zealand and how much power you have to give hope to even one heart. That heart will inspire and help provide for many other hearts and the chain reaction will continue on.

If you can donate in any way shape or form (time, materials, inspiration) please get in touch maria.izzy.hardy@gmail.com. Or donate financially via this page. Every cent counts!! If you sacrificed your daily $4 coffee for the next month and donated that money to a child in need. That money could pay for one child’s entire school fees for a whole term. $2 could buy pencils or a pair of shoes. Every single person who donates will receive email updates and photos of the child sponsored with the scholarship that’s been provided through your giving. Please send your email address in the comment section along with your donation or email it to me! That way we can update you so you feel connected to the cause. The world needs you, these children need you. Because the payee needs to be a NZ citizen, funds will go into my personal account first and then directly into Green Gates School Scholarship account monthly.