YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES IN RAKAI

In Victorian times young children were denied education and pushed to work to support their families. Sadly for many of the children we meet during our visits to Africa life is similar. Imagine struggling to learn to read and write, falling behind academically because your parents cannot afford to keep you in school, and eventually you find yourself aged 15 in a class with 8 and 9 year olds. It’s a hard thing to keep motivated, there may be pressure to go out and get work to support the family’s basic needs, after all you are able and strong, and if the fees are not available then you really end up having to leave school without any skills to help you in the adult world. This is the reality for many children.

Many of the primary schools see a drop off in enrolment of the older children, and Amos - the new Pastor at Rakai - a very impoverished parish, feels called to try and improve the situation for the local youngsters.

He has called on the church and local community to support his vision for a local church-led vocational college. The primary school has been persuaded to offer two classrooms, part time tutors have been found, and Amos himself has sacrificially given his own wages to pay towards the tutors and donated his own family’s sewing machine to the ‘Tailoring Department’. The Department of Education have approved the license, and the college opened. Fees are £18 a term plus 10kg of maize flour and 5kg of beans towards the lunches. At present there are only 8 students who have enrolled. This is probably because the fees equate to a month’s wages for a casual labourer, but there is no doubt that as the news travels, and parents/guardians are able to afford it, that many more will enrol. Giving these youngsters practical skills will give them hope of a brighter future, enabling them to benefit their families and own community. The courses offered are in Agriculture, Building and Construction, Catering and Information Technology He is fundraising for equipment for practical lessons but the tutors are concentrating on theory subjects for the moment!

Could you help Amos raise funds?

A bright future for a child could be in your hands!

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We would love to see you at this event - we will be there!

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