EDUCATION SUPPORT
Education Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children
PEFO is dedicated to providing education support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by HIV/AIDS, many of whom are cared for by their grandmothers. Our support spans from primary school to university, tailored to the needs of the children and the preferences of our sponsors.
We offer an open-ended approach where children can receive partial sponsorship based on their sponsor's contribution, as well as full bursaries covering education from primary to university. PEFO covers at least 40% of school fees for OVC from grandmother-headed households, and up to 100% for the most vulnerable, including child-headed households. We also provide essential school supplies such as books, pens, mathematical sets and school uniform to support the children's learning.
The organization also works towards providing a conducive learning environment for children in rural schools through renovation of class room blocks. This is aimed to support children to have a right to Education.
Join us in making a difference in the lives of these children. Your support can help them achieve their educational dreams and secure a brighter future.
Sponsored Children in Schools
Success Stories
"Overcoming Odds: Shamim's Path to Success”
My name is Nakanyike Shamim, born in 1999 to the late Mabule Kevina and Nsubuga Sula. I am the third of seven children. Our family faced heartbreaking losses early on, with two of my siblings succumbing to asthma and pneumonia in 2004 and 2006. The most devastating blow came in 2008 when we lost both our parents in a tragic car accident, leaving five of us under the care of our elderly grandmother. Despite her best efforts, she struggled to provide adequate care, particularly for my two siblings also battling asthma. In 2009, they tragically passed away due to severe asthma attacks.
After these losses, three of us remained under our grandmother's care. She supported us through her fruit farming, ensuring I completed my primary education at Mbiiko Junior Academy. Sadly, during my P.7 vacation, my grandmother also passed away. We then moved in with my uncle, who, though willing, could not afford to support our education. It was during this challenging time that PEFO came to my rescue, providing me with the opportunity to attend Wanyange Girls School for my secondary education.
With PEFO's support, I completed my S.4 despite challenges with my UCE exams. Encouraged to pursue my interests further, I enrolled at YMCA and successfully completed a certificate course in Hotel and Institutional Catering. Today, I am employed as a chef at Jinja Nile Resort, where I am saving to pursue a diploma while also assisting my siblings with their basic needs to continue their education.
The person I am today, thriving in my career and hopeful for the future, is a testament to the love, care, and support extended to me by PEFO. I am forever grateful to PEFO Uganda and PEFO Netherlands for believing in me and empowering my journey. May their work continue to bless and transform the lives of many others.
From Hardship to Harmony: Elvis's Journey of Resilience and Redemption"
Born in 1995 to Ms. Zawedde Sarah and the late Richard Evans Odeta, my early years were marred by tragedy. My father succumbed to HIV/AIDS when I was only two, leaving my brother and me under the care of our infected mother. Unable to support us, she reluctantly sent us to live with our uncle in Soroti District, Uganda.
I was too young to grasp the weight of our situation then. It took seven years for the reality of my orphaned status to sink in. In 2004, my mother, unable to bear the separation, retrieved us. Yet, I hardly recognized her after years of absence. Confusion and sadness overwhelmed me as I felt abandoned by the woman who was my mother.
However, as I grew older, I began to understand her circumstances. She was a widowed teenager living with HIV, ostracized by her own family. With no stable income, she made the agonizing decision to send us away to ensure we had a chance at a better life. Her return marked a turning point. We moved to Mbiiko town council, where she taught at a nursery school to make ends meet.
Life was a daily struggle. My mother’s health deteriorated due to her medication, and financial hardships meant I missed school terms. We survived on one meal a day, and I took odd jobs to support us. Despite her illness, my mother was determined to see me educated. My mother's health deteriorated, exacerbated by her ARV treatment, but I found solace and opportunity through music and dance in a local church band, which eventually led to my connection with PEFO.
PEFO’s support was transformative. With their help, I completed secondary school and eventually graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Art and Design with Education in 2019. The education I received not only broadened my horizons but also honed my talents in music, dance, and drama. Determined to give back, I founded a drama group that advocates for street children’s rights through performances, which also sustain us financially.
Today, I am independent, able to provide for myself and support my mother. Her health has improved, and her joy has returned knowing that her sacrifices were not in vain. Through hardship and perseverance, our story has turned from one of despair to hope—a journey marked by resilience, education, and the transformative power of community support
Success story of Kigenyi Derick: From Hardship to Hope
I am Kigenyi Derick, son of Mr. Muwanika Fred and Ms. Nablubanga Teopista. Raised by a single mother, I am the second-born among seven children. Our small suburb, "Mbiko" in Buikwe District, was where my journey began. My father abandoned us when I was in primary seven, leaving to live in another town with another woman. My mother, a peasant farmer, could barely make ends meet, let alone pay for our school fees, rent, and other basic needs.
Despite her struggles, my mother managed to support me and my older sister through primary school. However, when it came time for secondary school, she simply couldn't afford it. My sister dropped out and moved to the city to work as a house girl, while I began collecting plastic bottles and scrap around the suburb to sell. During this time, I met someone who introduced me to the Mbiko brass band, which became a significant turning point in my life.
In 2008, through the brass band, I was introduced to PEFO. PEFO's support enabled me to attend St. Noah Mawaggali Senior Secondary School. After completing my senior four, I continued to receive support from PEFO to join Jinja Senior Secondary School for Advanced Level and later Makerere Business School, where I pursued a Bachelor's Degree in Entrepreneurship and Small Scale Business Management. With PEFO’s continued support, I graduated on February 16, 2023, and I am now working with Platinum Credit, Uganda as a sales agent.
PEFO’s support has not only transformed my life but has also had a profound impact on my family. Since I started university, my parents have begun to reconcile, with my father now recognizing the value of education and supporting my younger siblings with their school fees. With my earnings, I plan to further my education with a procurement course and continue supporting my siblings' education.
I am immensely grateful to PEFO Uganda and PEFO Netherlands for changing my life. Their support has given me hope and the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I hope this support continues to reach many others who have also lost hope of continuing their education.
Thank you, PEFO, for making a lasting difference in my life and the lives of my family.
Bukenya George: From Despair to Triumph
My name is Bukenya George, born into a polygamous family in Bujagali-Kyabirwa village, where life was marked by hardship from the start. With 27 siblings and a father struggling as a taxi driver and farmer, our daily existence was disfigured by poverty. Despite my father's efforts, our basic needs often went unmet, and education was a distant dream. Tragedy struck when my father left home, leaving us without support. Soon after, my mother fell ill with HIV/AIDS, rendering her unable to work. With nowhere else to turn, my siblings and I moved in with our grandmother, desperate and uncertain of our future.
Unlike my siblings who couldn't pursue education, I was determined to break the cycle of poverty. Through odd jobs like painting and farming, I managed to raise money for my admission into university, but the financial burden remained overwhelming. During my first semester at Kampala University, I hardly did tests or exams. In a moment of desperation, my grandmother and I approached PEFO for help that offered to cover half of my tuition fees. This support was a lifeline, enabling me to continue my studies with renewed hope and determination.
Today, I proudly hold a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, becoming the first in my family to achieve this milestone. PEFO's unwavering support and Madam Judith's guidance were instrumental in my success. Their belief in me kept me going even during the toughest times, including moments when unpaid balances threatened to halt my progress.
With my education, I now have the opportunity to make a positive impact in my community, just as PEFO transformed my life. I am forever grateful for their investment in my future and vow to use my skills to uplift others. Thank you, PEFO, for turning my despair into triumph. Your support has not only changed my life but has also inspired hope for a brighter future.
"Rising from Adversity: Ruth's Journey to Empowerment"
y name is Namunga Ruth, and I come from Butembe Village, Iganga District. Born as the fifth child in a family of eight to Kebba Margret and Kebba Samuel, our lives took a tragic turn in 1999 when my father and one of my siblings were lost in a horrific car accident. Overnight, our happy family was shattered, leaving my mother to care for seven children alone. Despite promises of support from relatives, we were soon abandoned, and my mother struggled to make ends meet. She took on odd jobs—washing clothes, cleaning homes, anything to provide our daily meals—but sending us all to school became an insurmountable challenge.
After primary school, my future seemed bleak until my mother arranged for me to stay with a woman in Jinja who promised to sponsor my secondary education in exchange for household chores. However, this promise turned out to be false. I endured mistreatment and hunger, until one day I overheard her admitting she couldn't afford to educate me while supporting her own children's schooling.
Determined not to give up, I sought help from various organizations, and that's when PEFO (Pearl Education Foundation) came to my rescue. Since joining PEFO in Form One in 2009, my life has transformed completely. With their support, I completed my secondary education and graduated in 2019 with a Diploma in Clinical Medicine from St. Regina College of Health Professionals in Hoima.
Today, I am gaining valuable experience working at a drug shop in Kyankwanzi within the medical field. This job has not only changed my life but also enabled me to support my family. I used my first earnings to establish a small kiosk for my mother, and together, we are funding my younger brother's secondary education.
My education has given me the courage to inspire other orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) who have lost hope. I encourage them to seize opportunities and change their lives for the better. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of PEFO and their sponsors, whose generosity has shaped my future. I am forever grateful for their belief in me and their commitment to making dreams a reality.