Patricia

St. Anne Junior school Wanyama, Uganda

To upscale our work beyond Amaimo to more communities across Sub-Saharan Africa, we have now launched the Child Sponsorship Scheme, an offshoot of our Community Sponsorship Programme. We’re reaching out to some of our generous sponsors for financial support and working together with our new partners in Ghana, Uganda and Sierra Leone to enrol children into school in these countries.

Pictured above is Patricia, one of the first beneficiaries of our Child Sponsorship Scheme. Patricia is six years old and the 5th child of a single mum  She loves Mathematics and counting numbers and dreams of becoming a doctor when she grows up. When playing with her friends, she loves to draw pictures and tell stories.

However, along with her three other siblings, Patricia was not yet enrolled in school when we connected with her through our partner organisation, Akamwenhu Initiative Uganda.She and her siblings are being raised by a single mother who sustains her family by hawking pancakes in her village of Wanyama, Uganda, with a family income barely enough to feed all the children.

We’ve now enrolled Patricia in St. Anne Junior school, Wanyama, and she has commenced her journey to achieving her dream to become a doctor. Particia’s school fees and other learning costs are being financed by one of our generous sponsors.

We’re happy to journey along with Patricia and proud to see her smartly dressed in her brand new school uniform.

Baraka

St. Anne Junior school Wanyama, Uganda

Baraka is the 9th child of a polygamous family of 12 children.His mother mum passed away when he was just a baby, leaving him in the care of relatives who had no means to sustain him. Soon he was homeless on the streets. Our partners, Akamwenhu Initiative Uganda, came across Baraka through a local woman who had volunteered to accommodate him for a night. They embarked on a search for his relatives and eventually traced Baraka’s grandmother.

Baraka lived with his grandmother for a short time until another sympathetic family offered to take him into their home to enable him to commence learning closer to a local school. Baraka’s dream is to be a teacher and with the opportunity granted by EVM, he hopes, when he grows up, to help educate many kids in his local community.

Baraka loves making friends and counting numbers.

Richmond

Kpoviadzi EP Primary School, Ghana

Richmond lives in the heart of Kpoviadzi, a small village nestled within the Volta Region of Ghana. A bright-eyed boy, at seven years old, Richmond is already known for his inquisitive mind and quick wit. He attends Kpoviadzi EP Primary School, where his teachers have taken note of his potential, often praising him as one of the smartest kids in his class.
Richmond’s life, however, is far from easy. His parents are alive but separated, leaving him in the care of his grandmother. Grandma Patience, a resilient and hardworking farmer, has taken on the daunting responsibility of raising Richmond alongside five other children. Her days are spent tending to the fields, battling the elements to grow enough food to feed her large family.
Despite her relentless efforts, providing for six children is a Herculean task. The modest yields from her farm barely stretch far enough to cover their basic needs, let alone the cost of their education. Richmond often goes to bed with an empty stomach, the rumble of hunger a constant companion. Yet, he never lets his hardships dim his spirits.
Each morning, Richmond makes the trek to school with a determined heart, eager to learn and escape the cycle of poverty that grips his family. His teachers admire his dedication, noting how he always completes his homework, often staying up late under the dim light of a shared lantern at home. Richmond dreams of becoming someone who can make a difference, able to lift his family out of their struggles.
Grandma Patience never lets Richard forget the value of education. She encourages him daily, reminding him that his intelligence is a gift that can open doors to a brighter future. Richmond, in turn, is fiercely determined to make his grandmother proud. He studies hard, participates actively in class, and shows a natural aptitude for problem-solving and critical thinking.
The challenges Richmond faces are immense, but his resilience and determination shine brightly. With the support of EVM, there is hope that this young boy, full of potential and dreams, can have a future where his brilliance is nurtured and his hunger is a thing of the past.

Charlotte

Kpoviadzi EP Primary School, Ghana

Charlotte, a gentle and quiet nine-year-old girl, attends Kpoviadzi EP Primary School, where she is known for her kind nature and eagerness to learn. Charlotte’s life, however, has been marked by uncertainty and hardship from a very young age.

Adopted by an adoptive family, Charlotte has never known her biological parents. Her adoptive mother, Grace, and her husband, both dedicated farmers, have three children of their own. Despite their limited resources, they opened their hearts and home to Charlotte, providing her with a place in their family.

Life on the farm is challenging. The family works tirelessly from dawn until dusk, cultivating the land to provide for their household. Despite their hard work, the yields are often insufficient, and the family struggles to make ends meet. Charlotte, along with her adoptive siblings, faces daily battles against deprivation.

Grace, a nurturing and compassionate woman, ensures that all her children, including Charlotte, attend school. She believes in the power of education to transform lives and is determined to give Charlotte every opportunity to succeed. However, the financial strain is evident. The costs associated with schooling – uniforms, books, and other supplies – are burdensome for the family.

At school, Charlotte is a diligent student, quietly striving to excel. She dreams of being able to help others in future, perhaps becoming a teacher to guide children like herself out of the shadows of poverty. Her teachers speak highly of her dedication and potential, often remarking on her gentle yet determined spirit.

Charlotte’s life, although filled with love from her adoptive family, is a constant struggle. She yearns for stability and the chance to truly focus on her studies without the weight of poverty pressing down on her. The support of EVM could be the key to unlocking her potential, providing her with the resources she needs to thrive academically and pursue her dreams.

With our help, Charlotte’s story can take a new turn. She can continue and complete her education and her dreams of a brighter future can become a reality.

Fatima Sesay

Saint Martin’s Primary School Congowo, Sierra Leone

Fatima is 5 years old and comes from a quaint village nestled between rolling hills and a whispering forest. Coming from a very deprived and vulnerable family background, Fatima was taken in as a baby by a kind guardian, away from her parents who had health issues. She was adopted by a well-known businesswoman in her local community by the name of Gelajor. 

Gelajor was moved by Fatima’s situation and decided to take up the burden of bringing her up, and hoping with all her heart to put Fatima through primary school. Unfortunately she’s presently on a sick bed and cannot continue with her business and her illness has left her with no hope of supporting her own children let alone Fatima. Till recently, no one ever came forward to help her.

Fatima’s hope of continuing school has now been renewed through our Child Sponsorship Scheme, with the help of our partners The Jamil and Nyanga Jawad Foundation, who spotted Fatima and identified the need for immediate intervention in her vulnerable situation.

Musa

Saint Martin’s Primary School Congowo, Sierra Leone

8 year old Musa had no parental care, no support, and no proper monitoring before he was identified and selected by our partners to benefit from our Child Sponsorship Scheme.