Thrive Uganda believes that education coupled with motivation, self-awareness, discipline and self-esteem will break the cycle of poverty in rural communities and help reduce illiteracy within the community as a whole.
The Thrive Uganda Process
Introduction
Our volunteers visit villagers to meet impoverished youth who are unable to attend school due to lack of means to pay school fees. We enroll disadvantaged youth beginning at age 11and continue to provide three pillar support until they graduate from university.
Evaluation
We ask the young person for permission to speak with their parents or caregivers. We talk with the family and the young person to determine if he/she has the motivation, work ethic and passion to successfully complete their education.
Financial Aid
We meet with young person’s family to discuss what they can afford. Thrive Uganda, the family and the young person identify the school that provides quality education at an affordable per term cost (below 400,000 Ugx or $113 USD) including learning fees, boarding fee, and meals). In some cases the family may be able to provide books, school uniform, and shoes.
Enrollment
We talk with the young person to determine if he/she has the zeal and passion to learn. We ask the young person for The guardian of the child is brought on board to discuss possibilities of what he/she can afford. Thrive Uganda, guardian and the child identify the School that provides quality education at an affordable per term cost (below 400,000 Ugx or $113 USD) including learning fees, boarding fee, and meals). In most cases the parent or caregiver provides books, school uniform, and shoes.
Registration
We register the young person to the agreed school, and pay registration fees of 10,000 Ugx (3 USD).
Attendance
The young person reports to school and after one week 50% of the fees is paid and after one month when they have demonstrated a committed to work hard and learn, the remaining 50% of the school fee is paid. After the first term, the fee is paid each term (schools in Uganda have three teams per year).
Evaluation
We monitor the young person’s school adaptation, discipline, performance and engagement through our school tour and report card review.
Commitment
Progression from the Primary through Upper Secondary grades depends on passing national examinations. Thrive Uganda accompanies our Achievers at each level providing tutoring and encouragement in addition to our three pillar support.
Uganda’s School Grades
Nursery/kindergarten: Starts as early as age 3 Years and completes at age 5. However, nursery/kindergarten is not a prerequisite to attend Primary School.
Primary: Grades P.1 – P.7: Typically, youth start at age 6 and completes primary at age 12. She/he must pass the national Primary Leaving Exam (PLE) before graduating primary seven.
Lower Secondary: Grades S.1 – S.4, ages 13 – 16: She/he must pass the national Uganda Certificate of Education UCE (O-Level Exam) before graduating Secondary 4
Upper Secondary: Grades S.5 – S.6, Ages 17 – 18: She/he must pass the national Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education Exam (A-Level Exam) prior to graduating Secondary 6.
College or university is typically 2 or 3 more years but some majors may be longer.