Uganda at one time was a leading country in Africa in combating AIDS. Today that success has reversed, and in some communities, like the one CBB supports, AIDS is rapidly on the rise, meaning that more and more girls are being orphaned by this disease.
Schoolgirls orphaned by AIDS
Compassion Beyond Borders gives scholarships to attend primary and secondary schools to 100 Ugandan girls orphaned by AIDS. CBB's project area outside the town of Jinja is a network of rural neighborhoods that are extremely poor, but have a strong sense of community. Many orphan girls without a grandmother or other relative to care for them are adopted by neighboring families, although they themselves are very poor.
The cost of sending an orphan girl to primary school in Uganda is $40 a year. All primary school girls in CBB's project area in need of help are receiving scholarships, but current funding is not sufficient to send all of the girls to high school. The cost of supporting a girl in a UIgandan high school is $120 a year.
Rehema's story
"Our father passed away some time back of HIV-AIDS and two of my sisters are also infected with the virus that causes AIDS. We never enjoyed our father because he left us when we are still young and that makes us doubt our tomorrow. Although we are with our mum, we also not enjoying because she is ever up and down looking for our survival in terms of food, clothing and education."
"Sometimes she comes late at home when she fails to get money and food, and that means no lunch and no supper that day. She tries to carry out some agriculture but she seems too weak."
"Right now this year, am going to Senior three [eleventh grade] but I doubt whether I shall continue or not, because there is no hope for her to get all the money for all [six] of us [in school]."
"Am now I could say I do face many problems
> like when I go to school I lack books and pens
> Am ever thinking about whether am also infected
> Am abused by girls that my father died of AIDS
> My young sisters are very sickly and miserable
> Men disturb me yet my aim is to continue with my studies to be able to support my mum and my brothers and sisters"
Rehema and her sisters are now receiving scholarships from CBB to continue with their studies.
