Why did we begin with education? Why are we still focused on it?
Our first “ask” was for school fees. We wanted to send 6 kids to school. Why school? The kids had a LOT of needs when we met them. Their diet wasn’t great, and they often experienced a lack of food (a need we worked to address quickly). Their beds weren’t in great shape, and they needed mosquito nets. There were medical needs, clothing needs, hygiene needs, not to mention emotional needs.
Part of the reason we began with school tuition was because there were older kids who needed to go to school before they simply aged out of a chance at an education. But the other reason is that a good school meets every category of a child’s needs. A good school provides a place free from violence where a child can feel physically safe – an important need for the kids at RUHU.
Schools in Uganda also provide meals each day and have a source of clean water. They provide mentoring and support from qualified teachers. They require a uniform and a pair of black shoes, polished up so that the kids all look smart. They challenge the kids intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.
Schools provide a sense of pride and dignity that poverty takes away.
When you give money to support a school budget or a child’s tuition, it can feel like you’re simply meeting an “academic” need. We’re glad to give hundreds of kids the chance to study and learn. But when you visit the RUHU Secondary or Primary School today, you very quickly realize that we aren’t simply providing classes. We’re supporting the entire child.
There’s no silver bullet in the work of development. There’s no shortcut for flourishing. But a good school goes a long way.
Peace, Caleb
