The Africa Project

Uganda is a beautiful country in East Africa. Bursting with colour, chaos, and the most vibrant people I have ever met, I quickly fell deeply in love with the country and its community.

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 the landmass of Uganda is only just bigger than NZ. With over 41 million people living within one small country, you can imagine the poverty and slum conditions that majority of the children are raised in.

My name is Maria, I’m 20 years old and I have a passion for the hearts of Africa. I was born in Zimbabwe, and was raised in stunning New Zealand. I spent my last few years of high school working and saving to fund this trip. In 2018 I spent six months in Africa and three of those months I spent volunteering in a primary school in a low income area in Kampala, Uganda. I 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 NZD per month is not a lot to live on. (If you get a job, supporting your younger siblings, parents, and extended family is a part of the culture too. The sense of community responsibility in Uganda is beyond anything I’ve ever known).

The children I spent my days with and taught 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. The students at Greengates School have dreams, 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 school assemblies and see it in the news. But please let it sink in, please realize how much power you have to give hope to just one heart. That heart will inspire and help provide for many other hearts and the chain reaction will continue on.

$1500 raised so far!!! thankyou thankyou thankyou!! One child (Pamele) is benefiting from an all fees paid scholarship and is attending Greengates school and flourishing. Two soccer balls have been purchased so the children can play football during breaks and one teacher has stepped up and taken on the position of coach. The children now practice football twice a week and absolutely love it and cherish their two new soccer balls. A music speaker has been purchased so the children can dance and enjoy the beauty of music. Another teacher has stepped up and taken on a position teaching drama and dance to each class once a week (and training other teachers so they can do the same).

There is so much good going on right now that wouldn't have been possible without the love and support received.

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.