A COVID-19 Update: Education in Uganda

As vaccination rates remain relatively low and restrictions remain in place, Uganda continues to struggle with the presence of the coronavirus. The future of the education of Ugandan children is a primary concern due to the intense restrictions still in place within the region.

The majority of schools in Uganda have been entirely closed for the last 18 months and most students are not receiving supplemental educational materials. According to the Daily Monitor, a local news source in Uganda, only around 20% of families have received supplemental learning materials distributed by the government (Bargiba, 2021). The likelihood of the reopening of most public schools appears bleak.

In an address to the nation in July, President Museveni stated, "schools will remain closed until sufficient vaccination of the eligible population and children aged 12-18 years old has taken shape.” Uganda’s vaccinations remain low, as experts estimate only about 1.5% of Ugandans are fully vaccinated.

Many disagree with the President’s school reopening strategy as the vaccine rollout in the region remains as an obstacle. Expert Dr. Nakabugo stated in response to President Museveni’s address to the nation, “You are talking about loss of a generation, loss of a future of the country,” says Dr Nakabugo. “We are losing a generation if nothing is done immediately. We are looking at a crisis, and it has to be acted on now”. While online schooling is an option for some, it is not a sufficient resolution to the problem as many in Uganda do not have access to electricity, a report in 2018 declared only 43% of Ugandans had access to electricity. Unfortunately, we are already witnessing the consequences of lack of education for the children of Uganda. 

According to the Human Rights Watch, the lack of education as well as lack of government assistance in Uganda has put children at risk of exploitative child labor. Families feeling the economic pressure due to COVID-19 have been placed in a position to send their children to work as well. Most of the labor for children is little pay and harsh working conditions. The programs director at Initiative for Social and Economic Rights Angella Nabwowe stated, “the government should immediately get children out of precarious labor situations and increase cash assistance to families to prevent further increases in poverty and child labor.”  

ASA continues to offer the support necessary to vulnerable groups within the region. If you want to help, click the link below to learn more about ASA and how to donate. 

https://asasocialfundforhiddenpeoples.org/donate/

Sources:

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/a-ugandan-crisis-in-18-months-no-schools-unpaid-loans-2-in-1-class-3530254

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/05/26/uganda-covid-19-pandemic-fueling-child-labor#

A Reflection: From ASA's Summer 2021 Media Intern

 

 Caitlyn is a MPIA student at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) with a focus on human security. She is ASA's media intern responsible for the development of blogs for ASA's Voices from the Shadows blog and podcasts for the organization. She is also working to increase the organization's engagement on all social media platforms.

As the summer winds down and my summer internship comes to an end, I offer a reflection on my internship experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID made its known entrance into the United States when grad school acceptance letters began to arrive. COVID ravaged the United States as decision day crept up on me. After deciding on Pitt’s graduate program, it quickly followed that the decision was made of an entire year of online schooling. I struggled with imposter syndrome combined with the isolation from COVID restrictions. The only connections made were with the small square boxes of my classmates during Zoom calls. 

What followed was the dread of my looming internship requirement. As COVID cases continued to rise in the area. I was flooded with feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. The internship applications were one after another. I had cover letters mastered, and rejection became second nature. With the world all online, the competition widened, encompassing anyone with access to the internet. At the end of my spring semester, I discovered ASA, an impressive organization I was surprised I had not yet heard about. After reading ASA’s mission statement as well as some of their work, I felt motivated to be an intern for their organization.

I was welcomed by founders Dr. Louis Picard and Pauline Greenlick with optimism and understanding. I was given the flexibility needed for a graduate student juggling an internship, a part-time job, and the weight of an endless pandemic. My passion for human rights and the security of vulnerable groups made me especially eager to intern for ASA. Not only have I gained skills regarding my writing and use of social media platforms, but I had the pleasure of working with people dedicated to the cause. The stories of those ASA has impacted in Uganda will live with me forever as I pursue my career in nonprofit and human rights work. 

At whatever stage in our lives that we are experiencing what seems like this endless pandemic, none of us remain unaffected. At 24, there is a lot I do not know, but what I do know is in the two years I’ve been living through this pandemic I’ve learned the immense importance of compassion for one another.

COVID-19 and The State of Nonprofit Organizations

The novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has ripped through the globe, infecting over 200 million people to date. COVID-19 has disrupted every aspect of society, including all components of social and economic life. Unfortunately, nonprofit organizations are not immune from the effects of the virus that has halted the world. Nonprofits universally have felt the pressure of COVID-19. A survey conducted by Independent Sector reported a clear decrease in revenue for the nonprofits questioned. Another study conducted by WealthEngine concluded COVID-19 resulted in 75% of  nonprofit organizations making budget cuts. While it varies how the pandemic has affected nonprofits based on their unique structures, I checked in with President of ASA, Dr. Louis Picard, and ASA’s experience as they trek through unprecedented times.

ASA’s mission and unique design seems to have protected them from the fundraising disruptions other nonprofits across the US have been experiencing. Dr. Picard noted ASA’s fundraising opportunities have yet to be disrupted and there has been an increase in generosity among people during the pandemic. The struggle for ASA is the current COVID-19 challenges ravaging Uganda. While the US is experiencing wide vaccine distribution, with an overall 50% vaccination rate, Uganda is significantly behind with an assumed vaccination rate at 1.3%. ASA relies heavily on the connections they make in Uganda with those whose stories they wish to tell. Dr. Picard mentions, “we really depend on meeting with people, monitoring what is going on the ground, and supporting training activities”.

Furthermore, the country has implemented severe lockdowns with the threat if arrest if defied. These intense lockdowns prevent individuals from making income to pay back the microloans provided by ASA. The microloan program is a key component of ASA's mission to provide the people of Uganda economic empowerment. In our interview, Dr. Picard reflects on next steps and how to adapt in a world where connectivity, the key to nonprofit organizations, has been disrupted.

In the face of ongoing challenges as a result of COVID-19, Dr. Picard appeared optimistic in accepting and adapting to the current conditions. ASA’s main battle is loan repayment, which is essential to the generation of new loans to be distributed, and is challenged by the strict restrictions implemented in Uganda. They take the loans in good faith, but the restrictions inhibit them from making income to pay them back. He mentions, “we must be realistic about loan repayment”. The current COVID conditions are disrupting the sustainability of the loan program ASA has established in Uganda. ASA plans to prepare a strategy to help alleviate the loan payments many in Uganda struggle with while adhering to COVID lockdowns. The successful loan groups are located in Gulu because they are dealing with projects in which they have experience like produce buying and selling which are grown and harvested there. While some have been able to pay them back, they are seeking an equitable solution. ASA has started a fundraiser this week seeking funds for the microloan project that will generate emergency bridging grants to help loan recipients coming out of the lockdown get back on their feet. Dr. Picard hopes to provide each group a grant to restart and to provide additional training and educational resources. He remains hopeful ASA will continue to persevere through the multiple components impeding them from normal operations.

For more information regarding ASA's current fundraiser: https://mailchi.mp/21ec78c35d63/2021microloan