Komo Learning Centres: NK Education Fund

AIDS has created a large cohort of orphans in Uganda. Although the recent expansion of treatment means that the number of children who lose one or both parents will eventually fall, tens of thousands of young people are currently growing up in poverty. They face many challenges to having normal, productive lives, but one of the most serious is the limitation on their educational horizons. The main objective of this scholarship fund is to provide these vulnerable children the opportunity to receive their secondary education and beyond.

Tuition for non boarding secondary school students is approximately $100 per year and $400 for boarding students, while college tuition can go up to $2000 per year all included.

Currently, 44 children are supported with tuition, scholastic materials, and sometimes food and board. These are supported by contributions from the Komo Learning Centres, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Noerine Kaleeba, and friends in Uganda and abroad.

The main objective of this component is to ensure that these children complete school in the current format provided by the Ugandan education system.

Sandra Nabukalu December 2009

My name is Sandra Nabukalu. I am twenty years old and in first year at university. I started my first year at Kampala International University-Western Campus at the beginning of October 2009 and I hope to graduate with my Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery after five and half years. My university is located in the western Rift Valley in the western part of Uganda- Ishaka county, Bushenyi district. The weather in Bushenyi dominated by frequent light rains and minimal seasons of sunshine. I liked the weather and the entire university set up because it is conducive to reading. After my bachelors I hope to specialise in cardiology so that I can save people from travelling to outside countries for heart surgeries. This is because we don’t have any heart operations done in Uganda. Right from primary through secondary education I have been supported by my aunt Noerine – my father died when I was still very young. Aunt Noerine is such a special person to my family and so many people in need. I was extremely worried that I would never realise my dream of becoming a doctor when Aunt Noerine retired and could no longer pay for me to go to university! But God heard my prayers and sent me the Chiquet family who are friends of Aunt Noerine who have committed to support me through my university education.

My university has students from Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and other parts of the world as well as those from various parts of Uganda. Through socialising with so many people from all over at the university, my self esteem has been enhanced a great deal and I have come to learn more about other people and myself too.