Youth in drive to support underprivileged children
January 26, 2022
22, NEW VISION, December 11, 2019
By Geoffrey Mutegeki
N ovember 30, 2019 will be a day to remember for parents and pupils of Homeland Infant School in Bombo, Luwero.
On this day, Darren Baine a 17-year old student at the Aga Khan International School, visited the school and donated an assortment of items. These included pencils, exercise books, manila papers, toys for the children and other essential resources.
He was welcomed to the school by pupils who sang and recited poems to show their happiness. Born to Christian and Pearl Baine of Buwate, Wakiso district, the first born of the family says he will support the school he has adopted and will support the children whenever he gets the funds.
“I realized the school and children lacked essentials like reading books and toys that can enhance their learning. I decided to embark on getting support through mobilizing friends and well-wishers to aid the school,” Darren says.
In August 2019, Darren, together with Maria Baryamujura the Director of Community Based Tourism Initiate (COBATI), visited the school and felt that the children needed some support to attain a relatively good early childhood education.
“Therefore, I have brought these children these sources and this is just the beginning. My dream is to grow this initiative and reach other schools around Uganda that are in the same predicament as Homeland Infant School.” Darren said.
The school has 80 children, aged between three and six. They learn from three different classrooms which were established by one of the locals in the village.
“There are many older, privileged individuals in Uganda, but find it difficult to offer a helping hand to those that do not have the same resources as them. For I believe if we help all areas of the society, we shall foster development,” Darren says.
To make this project more sustainable, he has started an initiative – Advocacy for schools (ADFOSCH) – which he hoped will grow bigger and offer support to more children.
“I want to give these children the opportunity to have quality education and to learn like the rest of us. With the little I have gathered; I feel I should help some souls” Darren says.
He says he is committed to raising funds to support children who are vulnerable but need education in their communities. Baine says he is inspired by the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on education, which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all.”
