Summary: To provide one trimester expenses for tuition, school supplies, personal hygiene, room and board, for at least 40 students enrolled in two primary and eight secondary schools in five communities in Uganda.
Malayika Rescue Missions (MRM) is a 501(c)3 founded in 2013 by Uganda-born Rotarian, Jolly Kahunde, a member of Mid-Cities Pacesetters Rotary Club (MCP) and is focused on educating disadvantaged children in her native Uganda. MRM pays tuition, provides uniforms, personal hygiene items, clothing, medicines, school supplies, bedding and transportation for 40 students (28 elementary and 12 secondary) at 10 schools in Fort Portal and four other locations in Uganda. MRM staff and volunteers teach farming (growing yams and corn) and animal husbandry (raising pigs) to the students. Last year, total 3rd term elementary tuition was $717.94 and secondary tuition was $4,767.12, or $5,485.06 total. Schools are currently partially closed by Government order, but to date elementary enrollment shows 3 fewer students due to Corona concerns. Elementary enrollent numbers when schools fully reopen in February 2021 are uncertain but may increase with those previously unregistered replacing any losses from COVID 19 or those graduating to secondary school. With up to four more secondary students costs will likely exceed last year, but total enrollment cannot be determined until the next term begins. MRM would like to serve additional students, but with limited funds it is not possible. In addition to tuition and related educational costs, many of these children are HIV positive and require medication and developmental initiatives.
This grant plus additional MCP Rotary Club donations and outside funding sources will allow MRM to maintain last year's elementary enrollment with the objective to add two secondary students at a cost of about $1,300, increasing the estimated trimester budget to $6,785.06. Based on the limited availability of District 5790 funds, it proved unfeasible to fully fund our original request. As amended to $4,000, this grant will cover about 59% of one trimester of tuition and other expenses as described earlier, but will not cover the increased (+4) secondary enrollment. With the additional funding ($2,785) from other sources the grant will allow a like number of currently enrolled students to continue their education. Added funds will be needed to pay for the enrollment increases.
Two MCP Rotary Club members (Jolly Kahunde and Bill Bracken) serve on the MRM Board of Directors and as individual contributors. Sharon Cox serves as an advisor. MCP sponsored Interact Clubs at Trinity HS and Richland HS with MCP Rotarians, Vice Principal Jennifer Muirhead and Science Teacher Michelle Johnson, as mentors contributed to MRM by each sponsoring a portion of one child's trimester expenses. MCP supported MRM in 2019-2020 with a club contribution to a matching grant (P-2964) of $2,000 and an additional $500+ from individual club members later in the year.
Go to https://www.malayikarescuemissions.org/ for more information
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