Human Rights
Concern for the Future promotes justice and human rights in the best way. We help excluded, traumatized children become leaders.
Empowering those without power is the best way to protect human rights. Our community building project heals traumatized children and their communities. We give a voice to those who are nor heard.
Our dynamic, transformational education program is unique Our leadership program advances international justice and reconciliation by giving marginalized individuals the skills and confidence to lead their communities.
We know our students will become future leaders because our students are showing extraordinary leadership right now. Their schools, their fellow students, and the media are noticing their achievements.
Student achievements
Kasozi Hilda of Uganda Martyr’s Senior Secondary School — Namugongo and Bayona Victoria of King’s College Budo were selected by New Vision, Uganda’s leading newspaper, as the top students in Uganda.
The magazine chose only eleven students for this honor: one from each of the best high schools. Our students were picked from the top two schools — Namugongo and Budo.
Kasozi Hilda was appointed assistant head girl (student body vice president) at Uganda Martyr’s Senior Secondary School — Namugongo.
Three years ago Hilda was stigmatized and out of school. Her HIV-positive mom did not have money for school fees. Hilda’s mom, Margaret, remembers, “I tested HIV-positive in 1993. I was so scared I started thinking of my death…Neighbors would not let their children play with mine.”
Then Hilda and her mom joined Concern for the Future. Hilda is now one of the best students at Uganda’s top high school, ” I’m able to get Distinctions (A grades) in all my subjects. Last year, I became the top student in my class.”
Hilda has big plans for the future, “I have always had a dream of becoming a doctor. I want to treat patients, especially the AIDS patients. I want to become a job creator, not a job seeker, by building my own hospital.”
Bayona Victoria studied at The Brooks School in Massachusetts for six weeks this spring. Victoria was one of two Ugandans selected to be exchange students.
John Baidu ranked #1 academically in his Senior 1 class at Uganda Martyr’s Senior Secondary – Namugongo last term. Ntege Paul was 5th.
Katongole Godfrey, who used to work in a rock quarry, ranked second in his Senior 5 class at Namugongo.
Bayona in New York City
Nantongo Madina, Ssekanjako Musa, and Moses Kusasira, received 8 out of 8 aggregates in Senior 1 last term, the equivalent of an A-plus average.
Ssekanjako Musa, a former street kid, got a score 0f 6 on his Primary Leaving Exam. This may be the best score ever achieved by a street kid in Uganda.
Wetaka Brian, Kimbowa Julius, and Amos Amoya were 2nd in their class. Pinyoloya Patricia, Nantayi Sarah, and Frank Senyage Kanizio were in the top ten.
Otto James, a night commuter from Gulu, whose two older brothers were abducted and forced to become soldiers, was first in his primary school.
Wasswa Charles, and Okello Ronald were made prefects (presidents) of their class. Nantayi Sarah is a dormitory mom (similar to being a prefect) at her primary school.
We are particularly proud of Ronald, who was abducted, saw his father killed, and lost his right arm. During his first term he cried often, avoiding other students. By the end of the term, he had been named class prefect.
Wasswa Stephen received a school service award for his work in music, dance, & drama.
A Force for Good in Uganda
Concern for the Future melds our 75 student-members into a family, a movement. We inculcate them with a sense of duty, a belief they can make things better, and the skills to put their beliefs into practice.
Otto James at a Gulu shelter for night commuters.
The students, their guardians, and our community partners, are a force for good in Uganda. They burn with the desire to help other disposed people achieve their place in the sun. They will work to set up structures that protect human rights and empower the disadvantaged.
Our program advances human rights in a long term, very effective way. Our students will become lawyers, judges, journalists, doctors, aid givers.
Giving them the best possible education, while training them to be leaders, advances human rights and promotes justice.
Donate
LEAD Uganda has two premium contribution levels: Sponsor and Patron.
Sponsors and Patrons receive a photo, letters from
their student, and progress reports from us.
Sponsors pay all costs for one child — $150 a month.
$150 a month — $5 a day pays for
everything a child needs to succeed: school fees, books, clothes, medical care, workshops in math, science, computers, and leadership, emotional support, counseling, and a family.
Sponsors are assigned a student. They receive monthly letters from their student, and progress reports from us. They may also receive photographs, drawings, and other materials.
Patrons donate $50 or $100 a month.
$100 a month – $3 a day - pays school fees (tuition), plus room, and board, books, and uniform at one of the best high schools in Uganda.
$50 a month – $1.50 a day – covers school fees for one scholar at a top school.
Patrons receive letters from students and progress reports from us. They are not assigned one student.
Please give what you can. Every donation helps.
$25 a month covers workshops in leadership, video, science, and writing, transportation home during school breaks, school visits, and staff support for one student.
$10 a month buys school supplies. clothes, shoes for one child.
$5 a month provides medical care and books for one student.
Please help a child achieve his or her dreams.
All contributions make a difference.
LEAD Uganda is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Donations are tax deductible.
Newsletter Editor: Stephen Shames
Photography © 2007, Stephen Shames / Polaris Images
Please feel free to distribute or forward this newsletter to friends, co-workers, and anyone else you think would like to know about the situation in Uganda and our program.