Ejoka (hello) from Uganda

A bit about me

I’m 42 years old and grew up in Abim district in Karamoja – a beautiful, hilly region in northeastern Uganda. Before joining VSO, I worked in schools for 16 years, first as a teacher and later as a headteacher. Education has always been a passion for me because I’ve seen first-hand how it can break the cycle of poverty.

I grew up in a family of ten children. My parents were illiterate and couldn’t afford to send all of us to school. Sometimes even finding enough food to eat was a struggle. My sisters never completed school and two of them became pregnant when they were just 15. Sadly, this is very common for young girls in Karamoja. 
 

I was lucky because I had the chance to finish school. My uncle believed in me and helped me continue my studies. Without his support, my life might have gone in a very different direction. That’s why education means so much to me – I’ve seen what happens when a child gets that chance, and what happens when they do not. 

I joined VSO because I wanted to give back to the people of Karamoja. Knowing that you are standing with us means so much to me. By choosing to act, you’re helping volunteers like me reach communities and spark lasting change for children across Karamoja.

I’d love to know more about you. Did you like school? Are you a teacher too? Please keep in touch by leaving me a message below. 

The harsh realities forcing children out of school 

Children can face serious barriers to education in Karamoja. Many families here live in poverty, and drought and poor harvests make life even harder. If parents are struggling to feed their families, their children may be kept home to help with farming, herding or other work, instead of going to school. It’s a situation I know well from my own life. 

For girls, the barriers can be even greater. Some families prioritise bride price – a custom where the groom or his family give money or livestock to the bride’s family in exchange for her hand in marriage. It can sometimes be as high as 100 cows. Because of this, many girls are married off very young – sometimes violently – and often before age 15. 

Girls are also often expected to care for siblings or help with livestock and household chores, rather than going to school. In community gatherings, women and girls are not allowed to speak or sit with men. They have no voice in decisions that affect their future. 

I’ve never been to the UK but I sure hope girls don’t face similar hardships in your country too. Whenever I meet a girl who has dropped out or been forced to marry, it pains me deeply. I know her dreams have been cut short before she ever had a chance.

Children with disabilities also face severe discrimination. Many are kept at home, viewed as a curse or hidden from the community. Parents often lack support or knowledge on how to care for them. In schools, children with disabilities face bullying and isolation, inaccessible classrooms or lessons that aren’t suitable for their learning needs. One girl told me she feared going to school because her parents said it would “shame” them. Seeing children neglected in this way fills me with sadness. I really hope things are different in the UK.
 

The difference you're making

With your support, volunteers like me are working to change things for the children of Karamoja. I now volunteer for VSO in 14 primary schools, four early childhood centres and one secondary school in the Amudat district. I mentor and train teachers, helping them make lessons more active, welcoming and inclusive for every child. I also support them to respond to children facing trauma or stigma, and work with parents and community leaders so that more girls and children with disabilities can stay in school.

Change takes time, but thanks to people like you, I am seeing progress. Parents are beginning to understand the value of education. Teachers and community members are asking us to come back and teach them more, and more children are returning to school. I feel so proud to be part of this work. I hope you do too. 

No one can describe the situation here better than the children and girls who experience it. I met Juliet a few weeks ago – such a courageous young woman. Read her story in her own powerful words.

Please do keep sponsoring a volunteer. Every gift matters and every day counts for girls like Juilet.

Juliet's* story

My name is Juliet and I’m 19 years old. I enjoyed school when I was young, but when I moved to a new one, the corporal punishment became too much. I stopped going because I was beaten badly and didn’t feel safe. Soon after, I was working in a restaurant when an older man befriended me. I became pregnant and the man disappeared - I think he knew he might be arrested. I was just 12 years old. I felt sick, scared and very alone. After that, school felt impossible for me. 

But when I was 17, I decided to go back. I looked at people who were educated and living good lives and I wanted that for my future too. I want to be able to support my child and give her a better chance in life. At first, I found going back to school while raising a young child really hard. I struggled to concentrate and couldn’t read or write well. I felt very lonely, and some of the other children bullied me because I was older than them. 

But when Alfred from VSO came to my school, things started to change. My teachers had extra training, and it made a big difference.

I felt able to ask questions and turn to my teacher when I was struggling. He is kind and teaches me well. I was even offered counselling. I feel a lot more comfortable and included, and my reading and writing has improved a lot too. We also now have lessons about growth and development, about staying safe and not getting involved in things that can put us in danger. I think that’s so important. The VSO team even spoke to my family and helped them support me to return to school while they cared for my child. They brought reusable sanitary pads and soap too, which gave me more confidence.

I am happy to be learning again and I’m improving every day. I wish more girls were in school, because with knowledge they can understand the world, find work, and support themselves when they’re older. I dream of being a nurse one day and hope I can be a role model for other girls.