Shanita's scholarship program was conceived to enable underprivileged children to access education through a network of committed private sponsors. It provides these children with a unique opportunity to forge a brighter future that would have otherwise been beyond their reach. Furthermore, for our supporters, it offers an opportunity participate actively in a project of transformation, making a concrete difference in a child's life while nurturing positive, enduring changes for the future.
What does it mean? How does it work? Is it right for me?
To understand the significant impact of our scholarship program, it's crucial to grasp the challenges faced by the children we support. Our program reaches children in remote areas of Karamoja, Uganda, where they encounter limited opportunities due to factors like extreme poverty, child labor, discrimination, and gender bias. Without access to education, their future looks dire.
Each of these children deserves the opportunity to live, learn, and thrive. Shanita recognizes this and takes a holistic approach to uplift them. We begin by addressing their immediate needs: providing a safe home, nutritious food, clean water, and emotional support. Once these basic needs are met, we continue to support them throughout the school year, ensuring they have all they need to succeed academically. This approach not only addresses their immediate challenges but also sets them on a path to a brighter future through education.
Where is the program offered?
We focus our efforts on supporting children from the remote Karamoja region in the north-eastern part of Uganda. Specifically, we work in the communities of Moroto, Napak, and Nakapiripirit.
Situated In the midst of striking landscapes, children in rural Karamoja encounter substantial barriers to accessing quality education. These challenges not only impede their academic development but also cast a shadow over their potential for future employment and socioeconomic advancement.
How does it work?
Throughout the year, we identify children in need, add their details to our database, and create a waitlist. By joining the scholarship program, your monthly donation covers all expenses for a specific child from this waitlist, making you their exclusive supporter. Upon joining, we'll promptly share the child's information with you and keep you updated on their progress.
Accompanied by our team, the child is warmly welcomed to school by both staff and fellow students in our program. After a brief adjustment period, they seamlessly integrate into the school routine, attending classes regularly and steadily laying the groundwork for a brighter future.
In Uganda, the school year is divided into three semesters with breaks lasting 3-6 weeks. Due to the unstable circumstances faced by many students in our scholarship program, we offer a safe haven in our compounds, carefully overseen by our local team. Our dorms provide a secure refuge, meeting all the children's needs.
During vacation periods, we operate a specially designed camp to provide unwavering support for children in our program who cannot return home due to safety or health concerns.
The camp is designed to accomplish the following objectives:
Security: Our paramount focus is to shield the children from potential dangers, ensuring a safe and secure environment.
Health: We prioritize the provision of medical care and support for those at risk, guaranteeing proper nutrition during their stay.
Family: Our aim is to cultivate a nurturing environment fostering active listening, trust, and self-confidence among the children.
Values: Emphasizing local and cultural values, we seek to enrich the children's value system, encouraging compassion, generosity, and partnership as essential tools for a better future—both for the children and their community.
Education: Our camp seeks to enhance the children's education by offering lessons in core subjects. We provide additional support to strengthen those who may be struggling academically.
Where Do the Children go to School?
Shanita collaborates closely with local schools to ensure they provide all necessary facilities and services for the well-being and success of the children. Additionally, we supplement these essential amenities with our own resources, including nutritious meals, accommodation, medical services, and extracurricular activities. Serving as both a home and a safe haven, our environment becomes integral to the children's daily lives—where they study, sleep, eat, and spend the majority of their time.
Investing in Transformation: The Cost and Impact
To fully support a child in our program, we request an annual commitment of 600 USD (or 50 USD per month). Your contribution is vital in providing a comprehensive range of services and supplies, ensuring a holistic support system for the children. With your generous donation, you cover:
Unlike conventional organizations, we've adopted a community-centric approach. By removing overseas offices and executive travels, we prioritize local empowerment, ensuring that every dollar directly addresses the core issues we aim to solve—empowering the children.
What is the Impact?
Shanita's scholarship program initiates a transformative journey that starts with saving lives, instilling values, and providing essential skills.
As these children progress through education, they gain the tools to shape their futures, impacting their families, communities, and country. Your support catalyzes broader change, fostering independent local leadership for a brighter future. Join us in this journey of lasting impact.
