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Support Education Efforts

Join us in raising funds to enhance educational opportunities for children in Uganda and transform lives.

Fundraising Initiatives

We organize events and campaigns to raise essential funds for educational projects in Uganda.

Community Engagement

We collaborate with local communities to promote awareness and support for educational needs in Uganda.

In Uganda, the educational landscape faces numerous challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, limited access to quality teaching, and financial constraints that hinder many children's ability to attend school. Government funding, alongside support from non-governmental organizations, plays a vital role in addressing these issues. By allocating resources to improve school facilities, provide learning materials, and train teachers, funds contribute to enhancing the overall quality of education. Additionally, financial assistance helps to subsidize costs for families, ensuring that more children, especially girls and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can pursue their education. These investments not only empower individuals but also foster community development, ultimately contributing to the country’s economic growth and social progress. The positive impact of such financial support underscores the importance of sustained investment in Uganda’s educational sector.

Father Aloysius Kasoma has devoted his life to enhancing education in Uganda, and his efforts have been met with remarkable success. Recognizing the challenges faced by students and teachers alike, he has implemented innovative programs and initiatives that have transformed countless lives. Through his unwavering commitment, he has established schools, improved teacher training, and provided resources to underserved communities. His work has not only uplifted the educational standards but has also inspired a new generation of learners to pursue their dreams. Father Kasoma’s passion for education and his relentless drive to create a better future for the youth of Uganda have made a significant impact, fostering hope and opportunities in a nation that is eager for change. As he continues this vital mission, his legacy of dedication and success will undoubtedly resonate for years to come.

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Support Father Aloysius Kasoma's mission to provide education in Uganda. Your donations can change lives and uplift communities in need.

Location

Uganda, Educational Support

Hours

9 AM - 5 PM

Report on Meeting to Help

by Annette Marie Lienhart

Introduction:

Several individuals met at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on July 22, 2024, to discuss Father Aloysius's ministry needs in Lwebitakuli, Uganda, East Africa. Their presence and input were invaluable as it was considered how parishes located in the Kansas City Diocese can play a crucial role in supporting Father Aloysius's ministry. This is a summary of the meeting, where the importance of collective efforts was recognized in this mission.

Demographics, Location, and General Information of Lwebitakuli, Uganda:

Reverend Father Aloysius Kasoma is responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of approximately 30,000 souls in Lwebitakuli. Lwebitakuli is located near Lake Victoria and had a population of roughly 72,400 in 2020, covering about 186 square miles. Uganda's annual population increase is about 2.9%. The urgency of the situation is further highlighted by the staggering 83% unemployment rate for young people in Uganda ages 15-24. 1 The unemployment rate for young people in Uganda ages 15-24 is a staggering 83%. 2

Uganda has the youngest age structure in the world, with 77% of its population under age 30. The population of Uganda is currently growing by about one million people per year, and given this demographic momentum, Uganda will experience high population growth for decades that will impact all aspects of its development, economic growth, quality of education, and health care. Governance, political stability, security, and dependence on climate change profoundly influence life in Uganda. Women in Uganda have an average of 6.7 children, among the world's highest. Between 1985 and 2005, the population nearly doubled, from 14.8 million to 28.7 million, and will quadruple by 2045. In Uganda, 80% of the population is rural and depends on rainfed agriculture, while inherent fluctuations in climate leave the country vulnerable to gloos and droughts. Uganda's high fertility rate has been described as "a primary cause of poverty" due to land shortages compounded through each successive generation. As of 2023, the median age in Uganda was 16.3 years, and the proportion of children below the age of 14 in 2015 was 48.1 percent. 3

Many government agencies are coordinating with the Ugandan government to implement programs focusing on education, vocational training, and job creation for youth. However, there is more needed.

Requested Support of the Saint Charles Lwanga Lwebitakuli:

Reverend Father Aloysius Kasoma serves the Saint Agatha Lwebitakuli Catholic Parish and the school of Saint Charles Lwanga Lwebitakuli, a Ugandan Secondary School in Sembabule district, Kawanda. Father Aloysius reports that Saint Charles Lwanga Lwebitakuli has about 660 students, 140 girls, 100 boys, and 420 day students. The desire is to serve 200 more Day Students at the school.

The challenge is to raise funds to build four new classrooms to accommodate the addition of 200 day students. Also current students are being schooled in the hallways and would be better served in a classroom. There students pay tuition, determined by whether they are day students or live at the school.

Outcome:

Although pre-pandemic primary school attendance was reasonably high at 95% in 2013, secondary school attendance was only 34% in the same year. As of June 2022, secondary school attendance rates were only 25%.

The outcome of this project will not only support educating children to grow up with opportunities to secure jobs to support their future families, but it is also an opportunity for these children and their extended families to discover and grow in the Catholic faith. In Uganda, if this school cannot expand to meet these students' needs and discover the beauty of Catholic faith, they will attend the Muslim schools in the area.

We can help improve school attendance rates for Ugandans by supporting schools and education programs. These programs provide children witgh the tools they need to build a more promising future through education and meet basic needs for children to help them break the cycle of poverty.

Goals:

• Become a Sister Diocese to the school Reverend Father Aloysius Kasoma Serves.

• To support the building of four new classrooms.

• To connect our children through being a Pen Pal to a student.

• To form fundraising activities to raise funds for this purpose.

• To provide funds for the Ugandan recipients to make items to sell here at fund-raisers.

Vision:

The vision of education and the Catholic mission of the Kansas City founding father, Father Donnelly, by helping this school in Uganda makes sense. Fr. Donnelly's experience as a civil engineer and stonecutter was crucial to taking Kansas City from the edge of the frontier to where it is today. Without his visions and training, Kansas City would likely not have matured into its current metropolis. It would be appropriate for Fr. Donnelly's mission to nurture and support others in education and the Catholic faith by extending his vision to Uganda.

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1 "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2024

2 The Effects of a Very Young Age Structure in Uganda". (PDF). Population Action International. 2010.. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-24 and retrieved July 17, 2014.

3 World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2024