𝐔𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐟𝐟 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟒𝟐 𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭
The Uriama Seff Empowerment Foundation (USEFF) is preparing for this year’s Charity Run scheduled for August 22 at Wandi Primary School grounds in Katrini Sub-county, Terego District, with the aim of raising funds to keep vulnerable girls in school.
The idea behind the charity run started in 2023 after individuals now working at USEFF came across the story of a 13-year-old girl who had dropped out of school and was selling charcoal at Ocodri Market to raise money for scholastic materials. The girl had lost both parents and was living with her grandmother.
After supporting the girl to return to school, USEFF decided to look deeper into the challenges facing children in the community. A study carried out in government-aided secondary schools in Terego District showed that only seven percent of girls were joining secondary school compared to 13 percent of boys.
This pushed the foundation to start the charity run as a way of mobilising support for vulnerable girls. Through the first and second editions, USEFF has supported 28 girls who are currently studying at Ariape Secondary School.
This year’s run aims to keep the 28 girls in school and add another 14, bringing the total number of supported girls to 42. The foundation estimates it needs Shs18 million to support the girls for a full year.
Ringua Sabino the acting Communications person on the organizing committee for the Charity run said the charity run is not only about raising money but also creating awareness about teenage pregnancy, school dropout, and the importance of keeping children in school.
“Strong mothers raise strong boys and girls who can build a responsible nation. We need to empower these children because they are the future of our communities,” Bosco said.
USEFF raises funds through the sale of charity running kits, with each kit bought contributing towards supporting the education of vulnerable girls. The kits are available through different points in the community, including Peace for Women a community based organization and also official partner for this year's edition.
The foundation selects beneficiaries through a careful process where headteachers identify vulnerable girls, with recommendations endorsed by local leaders.
The shortlisted girls are then visited at home and interviewed with support from education and community development officials to ensure those selected truly need the support.
The programme mainly supports vulnerable and talented girls transitioning from primary to secondary school, with the long-term goal of helping them complete O-Level education and possibly continue to A-Level in the future.
Besides supporting the girls directly, USEFF is also helping families through cocoa plantation projects so that parents can have a source of income to support their children in the long run.
Ahead of the charity run, the foundation has organised community meetings in Wandi, Olua, and Aramua in Katrini Sub-county to sensitise residents about school dropout, teenage pregnancy, and the need to support children’s education.
The event has received support from local leaders and security authorities, with preparations already underway. USEFF says about 20 percent of previous participants have been local leaders showing their commitment to the cause.
The foundation, which started operating in Arua City and is now also active in Terego District, says the charity run has helped highlight challenges affecting children, including early pregnancies, gender-based violence, and family conflicts.
USEFF’s target is to see more girls complete school, with a goal of increasing the number of girls completing education in Terego District to 80 percent by 2030.
𝐔𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐟𝐟 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟒𝟐 𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭
The Uriama Seff Empowerment Foundation (USEFF) is preparing for this year’s Charity Run scheduled for August 22 at Wandi Primary School grounds in Katrini Sub-county, Terego District, with the aim of raising funds to keep vulnerable girls in school.
The idea behind the charity run started in 2023 after individuals now working at USEFF came across the story of a 13-year-old girl who had dropped out of school and was selling charcoal at Ocodri Market to raise money for scholastic materials. The girl had lost both parents and was living with her grandmother.
After supporting the girl to return to school, USEFF decided to look deeper into the challenges facing children in the community. A study carried out in government-aided secondary schools in Terego District showed that only seven percent of girls were joining secondary school compared to 13 percent of boys.
This pushed the foundation to start the charity run as a way of mobilising support for vulnerable girls. Through the first and second editions, USEFF has supported 28 girls who are currently studying at Ariape Secondary School.
This year’s run aims to keep the 28 girls in school and add another 14, bringing the total number of supported girls to 42. The foundation estimates it needs Shs18 million to support the girls for a full year.
Ringua Sabino the acting Communications person on the organizing committee for the Charity run said the charity run is not only about raising money but also creating awareness about teenage pregnancy, school dropout, and the importance of keeping children in school.
“Strong mothers raise strong boys and girls who can build a responsible nation. We need to empower these children because they are the future of our communities,” Bosco said.
USEFF raises funds through the sale of charity running kits, with each kit bought contributing towards supporting the education of vulnerable girls. The kits are available through different points in the community, including Peace for Women a community based organization and also official partner for this year's edition.
The foundation selects beneficiaries through a careful process where headteachers identify vulnerable girls, with recommendations endorsed by local leaders.
The shortlisted girls are then visited at home and interviewed with support from education and community development officials to ensure those selected truly need the support.
The programme mainly supports vulnerable and talented girls transitioning from primary to secondary school, with the long-term goal of helping them complete O-Level education and possibly continue to A-Level in the future.
Besides supporting the girls directly, USEFF is also helping families through cocoa plantation projects so that parents can have a source of income to support their children in the long run.
Ahead of the charity run, the foundation has organised community meetings in Wandi, Olua, and Aramua in Katrini Sub-county to sensitise residents about school dropout, teenage pregnancy, and the need to support children’s education.
The event has received support from local leaders and security authorities, with preparations already underway. USEFF says about 20 percent of previous participants have been local leaders showing their commitment to the cause.
The foundation, which started operating in Arua City and is now also active in Terego District, says the charity run has helped highlight challenges affecting children, including early pregnancies, gender-based violence, and family conflicts.
USEFF’s target is to see more girls complete school, with a goal of increasing the number of girls completing education in Terego District to 80 percent by 2030.