Rural Child Education and Empowerment program
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In rural parts of Kazo District, many children continue to learn in difficult conditions. Some attend schools without adequate classrooms, desks, or safe sanitation facilities. Others miss school entirely due to poverty, household responsibilities, or lack of basic necessities such as school materials or menstrual supplies
The Rural Schools’ Improvement & Child Support Program responds to these realities by supporting children and schools to create safer and more supportive learning environments. Implemented by Childcare Support & Education Organisation, the program focuses on practical, community-based solutions that help children stay in school and learn with dignity.
Our work is anchored in community partner schools, including Destiny Primary School and Destiny Secondary School in Kanoni Town. These schools reflect the realities of many rural learning centres. They began with limited resources and have grown through community effort and sustained support. Today, they serve as key points of learning and care for vulnerable children across Kazo District.
Many of the rural schools we partner with began in extremely difficult conditions: unfinished classrooms, leaking roofs, no latrines, and no access to clean water. These unsafe environments discouraged attendance, especially among girls.
At Childcare Support, we help transform these schools into safe and welcoming learning environments by focusing on:
- School infrastructure upgrades, including construction or renovation of classrooms, latrines, and kitchens
- Provision of clean water systems, such as rainwater harvesting and handwashing facilities
- Learning environment improvements, including classroom furniture, chalkboards, and libraries
- Support for extracurricular and learning clubs that help build student confidence and life skills
- Training and capacity building for school management committees and parent-teacher associations
In many rural Ugandan communities, poverty forces children to stay home instead of being in school, even when they want to learn. Families cannot afford fees or supplies, and some children must earn income or care for siblings. Child mothers, orphans, and children from HIV‑affected homes often drop out entirely, with no pathway back.
Our child sponsorship and school support efforts focus on:
- Covering school fees and materials for children from the most vulnerable backgrounds
- Providing uniforms, meals, and basic medical care to help children stay healthy and focused
- Mentoring and psychosocial support, particularly for pregnant girls and child mothers who want return back to school
- Direct follow-up and engagement with families to keep children enrolled and supported
- Working with schools to create inclusive and child-friendly spaces that reduce stigma and promote belonging
Who We Support
- Orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs)
- Children from extremely low-income households
- Child mothers and school dropouts
- Children in families affected by HIV/AIDS or domestic instability
OUR IMPACT
Impact Before and After Childcare's Involvement
Before our intervention, schools in this region faced multiple challenges: overcrowded classrooms, poor lighting, no desks, unsafe sanitation, and water fetched from distant sources. Parents could not afford school fees, and girls often dropped out in upper primary due to early pregnancy or cultural pressures. In 2018, fewer than 40% of children in this area completed primary education.
- Over 300 children have been supported through sponsorship and direct school support.
- Dropout rates among girls have fallen significantly especially in P5 – P7 classes.
- Clean water and sanitation facilities have been built in both Destiny schools, reducing illness-related absenteeism.
- Caregiver engagement has increased, with regular parent-school meetings now a norm.
FAQ
What problem was the community facing before Childcare partnered with the schools?
Before Childcare Support & Education Organisation stepped in, many rural schools in Kazo District were struggling to provide even the most basic learning conditions. Children faced long walks to overcrowded or semi-functional classrooms, many made from mud and timber. Some had no toilets. Some had no water.
What solutions has Childcare helped bring to the community?
Since the launch of the Rural Schools’ Improvement & Child Support Program, things have begun to shift. Working through Destiny Primary School and Destiny Secondary School as anchor institutions, and in close collaboration with Government, Ministry of Education & local communities, Childcare has helped create real, visible progress.