|
|
|
 About |
 |
Title: Emebet Education Program
Location:
Categories: Education
Status:
In Progress
Timeline:
September 2 07 to September 2 07
Description:
The Emebet Education Program is a sponsorship initiative born in war-torn eastern DR Congo. Introduce to fifty orphans by an organization of illiterate women, they explained their situation: “We try to find homes for the orphans. No orphans are attending school because of the cost – not just the fees but the uniform and supplies.” Facing such a situation, WTE created a way for these children to attend school. Sponsors can support a child for one year or for their whole education career via donations. Each sponsor is also encouraged to be in contact with the child so as to provide some social support and encourage learning.
Background:
HIV/AIDS has taken a massive toll, and continues to do so, upon individuals and societies around the world. With around forty million infected and twenty-five million already dead, the results are unparalleled in history. The virus is not only killing those infected but is destroying countries, communities, and families.
Generose lives in Nyragusu refugee camp, sixteen but not attending school. She is now living with a foster family as her mother died of HIV/AIDS and her father returning to DR Congo. She says, “I want to attend school to have knowledge and to prepare for my future.” The cost of secondary school prevents her from doing so. Generose’s story is not of many. She is one of fourteen million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS death.
Working To Empower acknowledges that community awareness and sensitization of HIV/AIDS is not enough. Factors related to HIV prevalence include education, poverty, and access to care and support. These are not direct causes, but knowledge is often not sufficient. For example, the widow who can not feed her children may know the risks of infection but feels she has no choice or option. Or, the orphan, desperate to attend school may know the risk but meets with the teacher of ‘Sugar Daddy’ as it appears to be the only solution.
The program began with a visit to Mwambangu / Mshimbakye, a village near Baraka, DR Congo as a WTE director met 400 children not able to attend school because of the fees and other associated costs. Because of the vast number of children, the program will begin to work only with the orphans of the village, a number of forty-eight. An agreement details the acceptance and guidelines, such as what WTE will and will not pay for and the rules for continued sponsorship. The program offers to pay school fees and provide school uniforms for the children, but requires schools and supplies be provided by the family.
Money will not be given to the families, a local WTE director will pay for all things giving copies of receipts to both the family and WTE. This is a precaution to prevent misuse. Attendance records will be checked every 3 months and absentee students will be removed from the program so as to allow others to enter. Grades will be submitted at the end of the term along with a short self report on how the student intends to improve next term. All documents will be sent to a WTE director in Canada for record keeping.
Budget:
The program began with a visit to Mwambangu / Mshimbakye, a village near Baraka, DR Congo as a WTE director met 400 children not able to attend school because of the fees and other associated costs. Because of the vast number of children, the program will begin to work only with the orphans of the village, a number of forty-eight. An agreement details the acceptance and guidelines, such as what WTE will and will not pay for and the rules for continued sponsorship. The program offers to pay school fees and provide school uniforms for the children, but requires schools and supplies be provided by the family.
Money will not be given to the families, a local WTE director will pay for all things giving copies of receipts to both the family and WTE. This is a precaution to prevent misuse. Attendance records will be checked every 3 months and absentee students will be removed from the program so as to allow others to enter. Grades will be submitted at the end of the term along with a short self report on how the student intends to improve next term. All documents will be sent to a WTE director in Canada for record keeping.
Primary school has three semesters (Sept.-Dec., Dec.-April, April-July) while secondary has two (Sept.-Feb., Feb.-July), because of this time difference reports will be collected in February and July, with the third visit being in August to pay fees. Primary education school fees are $1.25 per month and secondary school fees are $2 per month. These fees will be paid by WTE on a one-year basis. The uniform will be bought once per year at a cost of $10 or $15 respectively. A local WTE director will visit the students three times a year to collect documents and additional student information, this will be a paid employee of WTE. This person will collect additional child reports, all documents required, and give suggestions for program terminations.
Needs:
Sponsorships
Contact Name: Logan Cochrane
Contact Email Address: workingtoempower@yahoo.com
Tags:
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Menu
