During the period October to December 2011, children spent a big part of the period doing exams as well being in Holidays. 3 children were sitting for their end of primary exams. We sent them Success cards as well as delivered words of encouragement. Therefore we took this chance to reflect on achievements for the year. 

During the year (2011) we made 18 school visits and 7 home monitoring visits to the beneficiaries. We also provided group and individual counseling to all the beneficiaries worth USD 960. Lunch worth USD 1395 provided to the beneficiaries for the year.

 PLA organized and facilitated a holiday event that brought together all the beneficiaries, Lira district officials and guardians.  At this event, the officials encouraged the beneficiaries to perform better and thanked Platform for Labour Action for the support it is providing to the community of Lira; educating war and orphaned girl children.  We distributed scholastic materials worth USD 1,020 which included rulers, exercise books (counter books, 96 paged books), pencils, rubbers, mathematical sets, graph books and files to the beneficiaries to the 31 beneficiaries.

 Most of the home visits made were based on the way the beneficiaries were treated by their guardians at home. This is because most of the beneficiaries school and class performances are based on how they are treated at home by guardians.

 As a result of this we were able to make seven home visits to Acen Jennifer and Apio Susan, Atai Sandra, Akullu Daphne, Awor Faith, Achola Brenda and Akot Rebecca As a result of the counseling sessions to the beneficiaries, they have  improved in their class and schools performance for example Acio Lonna of Akia primary school, Akot Rebbecca of V.H public school, Aguti Dorine of Aduku road primary school etc  Another example is of Akello Margret of Okwang secondary school who was able to receive school scholarship of 30,000 Uganda shillings (USD 15) as a result of her best school performance this year.

 Lunch to the beneficiaries

 The children this year were able receive lunch in their schools, which guaranteed their concentration in class, hence better performance at the end of the school term and in class.

 “When I don’t eat anything especially at lunch, I fail to concentrate and I get what the teacher is saying and teaching because all that am thinking of is need for food,” mentioned Daphne Akullu during the school monitoring visit

Holiday Event

A holiday activity was held in the month of February 2011, where 34 participants attended and of these 20 were beneficiaries, 4 district officials; district speaker, Assistant inspector of Police Lira District, Child and protection officer, Probation and welfare officer, 8 guardians and two PLA Staff; the field officer and youth community coordinator.

 The main objective of the activity was to create a conducive environment where the beneficiaries could confide in the officers and PLA staff their fears and challenges, that way they would be supported and helped to overcome them. In the past years the beneficiaries were afraid to mention their challenges to just about any one due to fear of being abused and laugh at but now they freely express their fears with the intension of seeking a solution from one with experience.

“Before I even feared telling anyone that I was suffering at home but now I can freely run to PLA office in case something is disturbing me,” narrated Brenda

Children who finished primary school

3 beneficiaries were able to finalize final examinations in their respective levels of primary and secondary. 2 girls that are Atai Sandra and Dorine Aguti were able to seat their primary leaving examinations and 1 girl Margret Akello of Okwang secondary school was able to seat her Uganda certificate of education.

The examinations will see them to another level, for the 2 girls to secondary school (Uganda certificate of education) and to Margret, it will see her to “A level” (Uganda advanced certificate of education)

They will still need the support of the project in especially terms of career guidance.

6 beneficiaries, through the effort of the project will get the full support from their guardians in terms of school fees which include both lunch and extra charges required for by the schools in the year 2012. This resulted from the home visits and the counseling provided by the field officer.

Planned activities for 2012

We shall monitor the beneficiaries whose guardians have promised to provide and support their education in the different schools. Since it is a new year we shall provide uniforms, offer counseling support, continue providing school lunch and distribute scholastic materials.

 Finally we shall identify more HIV positive and orphaned girls for support as well as update you, our donors, on the results of the candidates of Primary Leaving examination and Uganda certificate of education

 We appreciate and thank you for your contribution for the 2011 which have enabled us achieve the above.

Links:

• our website

• FINAL_REPORT_FOR_GLOBAL_GIVING_PROJECT_REPORT.doc (DOC)