Just Like My Child Foundation: Scholarship Parents and Guardians Policy Meeting

I traveled to Kikoiiro for the scholarship parents & guardians meeting. I found all of the mothers & grandmothers gathered with the community leader. I explained that the reason I was here today was to go over a new policy that Just Like My Child Foundation has created for the scholarship program. I explained that our rationale for creating a policy was that after a year of the program being in place we ran into some challenges that we didn’t foresee. The policy ensures that there is optimal parental involvement in the program, that the child is performing at a high academic level and staying out of trouble ensuring a continued scholarship, that the donors are getting what they are paying for and that all major stakeholders are giving something to ensure the success and sustainability of the program. I went over the policy with them step by step and gave them all the opportunity to ask questions and give opinions about the policy.

Community Leader, Chati translates for me as I explain the new JLMCF Scholarship Program Policy

Sister Angela of Bishop Asili and scholarship recipient Nankubuge Veronica listen attentively as we go over the new policy step by step

All of the women were so incredibly happy about all I had to share. They expressed that they had been frustrated up to this point that they hadn’t been involved enough in the program. They have felt for a long time that they were being left out of their child’s life. They didn’t want to mess up their child’s opportunity by complaining about it. They were very relieved that the school is now in Kakooge, which they feel is a reasonable and affordable expectation in terms of visiting days. They had all feared that they were missing a major part of the relationship that they once had with their child. Now that JLMC is requesting their involvement they will feel more comfortable with their child and not so out of the loop.

The grandmother of scholarship recipient Namata Josephine, signs the terms of agreement for the new policy

Chati assists all of the participants of the meeting in signing the terms of agreement

This meeting today was without question one of the highest points of my three plus years in Uganda. The parents and guardians of the JLMC scholarship program’s reaction to the new policy we’ve set exceeded every expectation that I could have possibly conjured up. These women are strong, capable and willing to do what it takes to make sure their child is not destined to the same fate they have been unfairly dealt. I had to fight back tears more than once during this meeting because my heart just swelled up with optimism and promise for the future of all women throughout the entire world.