In Uganda, a significant percentage of children drop out of school before they complete secondary education. The lack of adequate facilities and poor academic performance are the leading causes of this trend. The issue worsens in rural areas, where poverty is rampant, and children struggle to access quality education. Destiny Junior School is working hard to bridge this gap by providing early years education and teaching students how to read and write.
However, we face significant challenges in providing essential infrastructure and support to our students. Currently, we need an additional £2,600 to complete the plastering of our security wall and £820 to furnish one of our classrooms. We also need funds to provide meals for our students, pay our teachers' salaries, rent properties for housing our teachers, buy educational materials, and pay medical bills for our students.
By supporting Destiny Junior School, you will help us attain the necessary materials to complete essential infrastructure work and provide an excellent education to our students. For just £10 per month, you could sponsor a student and provide them with nutritious meals, clothes, and shelter. Together, we can break the cycle of poverty and give these children a brighter future.
We sincerely appreciate your support and generosity.
We need your support to help children in Walmer, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa, through the SHINE project, which IRFF UK fully supports. Walmer is a very poor area, and SHINE operates out of two bright yellow containers on the grounds of Walmer Primary School.
South Africa is now the most unequal country globally, and literacy levels are amongst the worst. 8 out of 10 Grade 4 (9-10-year-olds) learners cannot read for meaning in South Africa. Since the pandemic, children have lost a year of schooling, and most cannot afford smartphones or Wi-Fi for online learning. According to the South African curriculum, learners must be taught in English from Grade 4.
Thus, SHINE takes Grade 3 learners and immerses them in books and reading, with comprehension, in English. Many children have not heard any English before. For one hour at a time, one volunteer sits with two learners, and the hour has four parts: 15 mins - an educational game (with anything using dice being the favourites) 15 mins - they read to us (the books reflect their lives) 15 mins - they write sentences (we use phonetic methods and we never correct their work but instead praise their brave efforts) 15 mins - they are exhausted now, so we read a book to them.
In 2022, IRFF UK supported SHINE in teaching 60 children. The SHINE Teaching Centre also serves as a charity venue for learners needing academic resources, medical assistance, emotional support, and friendship. IRFF UK sends funds every other month to help cover the costs of school books, ink cartridges for a printer, and school shoes and clothing for children.
We urge you to support the SHINE project and make a difference in the lives of these children. With your help, we can provide them with the education and resources they need to build a brighter future.
Thank you for your consideration.
We are reaching out to you on behalf of the Slovo Study Group, a determined group of 8 teenage students who are currently studying online through UCT Online High School, following the South African Education Department's CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement).
These students have set their sights on completing high school in Grade 12, the highest achievable grade in the South African school system. With their hard work and dedication, it is estimated that they will all earn their Matric Certificate within the next 3 years.
However, these students come from disadvantaged backgrounds where poverty is prevalent, and many households rely on a single breadwinner. Additionally, they face frequent power cuts due to power station load-shedding.
The Slovo Study Group is in urgent need of financial support to ensure uninterrupted online connectivity. These students require consistent access to the internet to continue their studies effectively.
To address this challenge, IRFF UK has been funding approximately R4000 - R5000 of data per month to enable their participation in the test series. By contributing to the Slovo Study Group, you will directly impact the lives of these determined students and help them overcome the barriers they face. Your support will ensure they have the necessary resources to stay connected and excel in their education.
We kindly ask for your generous donation to support the Slovo Study Group's educational journey. Together, we can empower these students and give them the opportunities they deserve.
Thank you for considering our appeal. Your contribution will make a significant difference.