Absa Bank Uganda has today handed over the UGX300 million proceeds from the 2024 Absa 7 Hills Run, an annual charity event organised in partnership with the Kampala Hash House Harriers (KH3) to raise funds to keep the girl child in school.
In 2023, an analysis done by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) revealed that an estimated 1.2 million learners enrolled in primary school drop out before reaching primary seven. These high school dropout rates have been attributed to various factors including poverty, early child marriage, and teenage pregnancy.
“We believe that education is a right that every child should have access to, regardless of gender. The Absa KH3-7 Hills Run is our way of giving support to the girl child, because their story matters. We have divided these funds among reputable social enterprises through which we are honoured to make a contribution towards tackling a societal challenge; supporting the girl child to pursue an education; providing skills training; and improving menstrual hygiene management,” said Mumba Kalifungwa, Managing Director Absa Bank Uganda.
The funds have been split as follows:
• UGX50 million to the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation to provide school fees bursaries for 22 girls enrolled in the Joshua Cheptegei Junior School. The school avails full or partial school bursaries to the less privileged and/or needy children with emphasis to those talented in sports.
• UGX20 million towards school fee bursaries for vulnerable children through the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, which has two schools in Rukungiri and Kanungu.
• UGX50 million to Baylor College to provide school fees for 111 girls under their Determined Resilient Empowered Aids Free Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) programme in Fort Portal City aimed at reducing vulnerability of the adolescent girls and young women to HIV infection.
• UGX30 million to Amref Health Africa that will provide 1,875 girls with reusable sanitary pads under their Heroes of Gender programme. Through the programme, Amref assists teen mothers who have dropped out of school by their paying school fees and also providing menstrual health, hygiene, and management support.
• UGX60 million to fund the purchase of bicycles from Windle International, benefiting 266 girls. Windle supports girls to stay in school by providing transportation for girls who have to walk long distances to get to school. These long-distance commutes increase the vulnerability of the girl-child to sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, often leading to high school dropout rates.
• UGX90 million to World Vision to strengthen menstrual hygiene management in Karamoja, by providing access to clean and safe water benefiting over 5,000 girls.
In his remarks, Mr Kalifungwa commended the general public and partners for their support towards this noble cause. “Overall, through this support, we intend to contribute towards a reduction in school absenteeism and dropout rates among girls. We are grateful for the overwhelming support of the general public who showed up for the run to support this noble cause.”
