Scholarships · Rural Uganda
School fees are often the line between a child's dream and a daily struggle. Support the Scholarship Fund to give children stability, safety, and a future they can shape.
Many of the children we serve have lost a parent. Some are caring for younger siblings. Some live in homes with leaking roofs and doors tied shut with rope. For them, a classroom is a refuge where stability happens.
Attending school gives them structure, meals, supportive adults, and the time and space to be a child. It protects girls from early marriage. It protects boys from drifting into labor instead of literacy. And it builds the foundation for an income that one day can lift a whole family out of poverty.
Our scholarship program meets students where they are, from primary school through high school graduation. Every track is built on close relationships with local schools, headmasters, and families.
Giving a child an education changes the course of their life.
Even with scholarships, period poverty forces girls to miss up to 20 days of school each year. Learn how our Keep Girls in School program provides pad kits, underwear, and health supplies to eliminate this barrier completely.
Our scholarship program meets students where they are, from primary school through high school graduation. Every track is built on close relationships with local schools, headmasters, and families.
Laying the baseline for early learning and student retention.
Ugandan primary completion rates remain critical; only 32% to 38% of children finish the full 7-year cycle due to hidden costs of meals, uniforms, and learning supplies.
Preparing high school students for university and adult life.
Secondary participation in Uganda drops precipitously to just 33.3%, leaving over 36% of lower-secondary-age teenagers completely out of school.
Redirecting academically struggling youth to technical mastery.
Accredited under Uganda's Ministry of Education BTVET framework to redirect students facing academic examination challenges into local, high-demand technical trades.
We publish what it actually costs to keep one student in school for a full year, by level. These numbers come straight from our 2026 budgets — verified school by school.
| Level | What It Covers | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Primary School | Tuition, supplies, learning materials | $480 / year |
| Secondary (Day) | Tuition, supplies, learning materials | ~$420 / year |
| Secondary (Boarding) | Tuition, supplies, boarding fees | $1,150 / year |
| A-Level | Tuition, advanced fees, supplies | ~$977 / year |
If public primary and secondary education in Uganda is government-aided, why does comprehensive child sponsorship require $480 to $1,150 a year? Here is the real-world context verified across our partner schools in Eastern Uganda:
While public tuition is subsidized, schools require parents to pay for mandatory uniforms, standard textbooks, learning supplies, and daily meals. Without these, a child cannot legally sit in a classroom.
The Ugandan school calendar is split into three terms per year. Your annual sponsorship fee covers all three terms of tuition, supplies, and materials continuously without gaps.
For many secondary students, boarding is a safety measure. It protects children (especially girls) from long, unsafe commutes and abusive surroundings, and provides clean water, electricity, three hot meals, and secure study time.
"$1 a day keeps a child in primary school. For less than $500 a year, you provide a full year of education to a student in rural Uganda."
— Myriam, Executive Director, GVCEvery scholarship has a name, a face, and a family behind it. Here are four of the students currently on the program.
Hellen's education was cut short after she was raped while walking to collect water and became a young mother. With a scholarship covering her room and board, she returned to school, and she's now back on track for her dream of working in medicine — and a place on a netball team.
After losing both parents to HIV/AIDS, Iduma and his sister Madina had to leave school and stop their treatment. A GVC scholarship restored both — and put their futures back within reach.
Bridget was raised by an elderly guardian in a grass-thatched hut with a leaking roof. When her guardian passed away, her scholarship ensured she could keep learning without interruption. She's determined to become a lawyer.
Born with a hearing and speech impairment, Mathew spent years in classrooms that couldn't reach him. A sponsor placed him at a school for the deaf. He's learning sign language, telling jokes with friends, and dreams of becoming a teacher.
Every dollar flows to one of these schools, paying tuition and supplies directly. We work hand-in-hand with headmasters to identify the students who need support most.
Are you a teacher, student, or parent in the US? Learn how to Get Your School Involved with our partner classrooms in Uganda.
Your tax-deductible gift goes directly to our partner schools in rural Uganda to cover tuition, uniforms, learning materials, and hot meals. Select a scholarship track to begin.
Read about the dreams, achievements, and everyday progress of students whose lives have been unlocked by education.
Eastern UgandaWith a perfect PLE score of 4, 16-year-old Collin was still on the brink of dropping out due to fees. Thanks to your support, he is back in school.
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Eastern UgandaBecause of you, Annet returned to school consistently, found stability, and is now preparing for national exams to enter nursing school.
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Eastern UgandaBecause of you, Sarah received a secondary boarding scholarship at Kisiki College to study and chase her dream of becoming a nurse.
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Eastern UgandaBecause of your support, Muhammed received a secondary scholarship and is now a top student in Kisiki College, aiming for medical school.
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MbaleBecause of you, nine children from highly vulnerable backgrounds in Mbale have found safety, stability, and full-time education.
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NamatumbaBecause of you, Hirah received a boarding school scholarship at Namatumba Junior School, gaining academic confidence and safety.
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BusetaBecause of you, orphan girl Rashida graduated from vocational cosmetology training and is now working as an apprentice salon stylist.
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Mbale & BuyangaBecause of your generosity, nearly 16,000 books arrived in Mbale, bringing literacy and the promise of school libraries to thousands of children.
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BuyangaBecause of your support, 13-year-old Bridget received a scholarship and a goat to stay in school and chase her dream of becoming a doctor.
Read full story100% of your gift goes directly to student education. Tuition is paid directly to partner schools, with supplies and learning materials handled the same way. We maintain receipts for every transaction and are happy to share them on request.
After you give, you'll receive updates featuring GVC students, their stories, and school progress reports. Throughout the year, you will see exactly how the fund is helping them stay in class.
Each applicant is scored against a hybrid rubric covering financial need, academic potential, community engagement, and leadership. Local managers and school headmasters score students at the school level, our selection committee reviews, and the board approves the final cohort.
Yes. Global Village Connect is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. law.
Absolutely. While the pooled fund is our most scalable model, we also accommodate custom sponsorships for individual students, full classrooms, or grades. Please contact us to build a plan.
We accept monthly contributions and one-time gifts of any size, all of which directly support students through the GVC Scholarship Fund.
Supporting a scholar is a deeply personal and meaningful commitment. I'm Myriam, the Executive Director of Global Village Connect, and I'd love to connect with you 1:1.
Pick a time that works for you. I look forward to meeting you and sharing how your support transforms lives in rural Uganda.
Schedule a Call with MyriamNo commitment necessary. Just a friendly, informal chat.