Batwa School Dropout Rates are Ridiculously High. But Our Dropout Rates Are Not!

"Do not pass by a person in need. You might be the hand of God to them."

Less than 1% of Uganda's population, this minority indigenous tribe and their culture are on the brink of extinction.

Most Batwa individuals hardly practice their culture except when performing for tourists, intensively struggle with poverty, hunger, alcoholism, and domestic and child abuse.

We have been working with one village for more than a decade with dramatic improvements but there are many more villages and much more to do in this one alone.

96% Drop out Before Finishing Primary School

Education is key to Batwa success and healing. Yet a recent Minority Rights Group study showed that Batwa school dropout rate for children in four districts in southwestern Uganda, but not including Kanungu district where we are, is 96% in primary school. That means 96% of Batwa never even get a primary school education, which teaches them to speak English, the lingua franca of the world and the national language of Uganda, they may not learn to read or write at all, nor understand how to succeed in the modern world they've been thrust into. What's more, nearly all, 99.5%, drop out rate before finishing secondary school. 🤯

In Contrast, RSF's Yearly Dropout is 0.05%

In contrast, over 10 years RSF has an annual dropout rate of 0.05%! Less than 1/2%!! And this is because of all the work that we do with the kids and their families. Your support is changing their lives. Please join the successful mission by sponsoring one of our kids or donating any amount. We are grateful for you and all of our followers and donors!! We have 7 students in secondary school now, all of whom need two sponsors (or one paying enough) to support them fully.

What Sponsoring A Child Looks Like with RSF

It is still truly a desperate situation despite all of the work we have done to build houses, get clean water, and keep all of these kids in school with less than 1% dropout rate. Inflation is killing us.

Sponsoring a child costs $45/month and you can sign up at the Donate page. We put them in schools which provide 3 square meals a day, a bed with a mattress, sheets, and a comforter—more than at home where they sleep on mats and cover themselves with leaves. They also get on-break tutoring, extra clothes, and snacks and a center to visit whenever they need. And lots of hugs.

Please send an inquiry or just sign up and we'll connect you with the child most in need. Feel free to give any preferences, male or female, young or older. You can visit them in Uganda if you want. Our director, Wendee, goes regularly and has a relationship with each child and each family as does her daughter Joyce, who is a Stanford university student and a member of the tribe.

Brighten a Darkening World Through Your Love

If you have it in your heart to help make this darkening world a better place, you can find no better place to donate than here to our small, grassroots organization.

Donate or Sponsor