Buyende, Uganda: More than 400 children from the remote fishing community of Kasongoire on the shores of Lake Kyoga received scholastic materials and menstrual hygiene support as Becky’s Child Foundation marked the Day of the African Child with a community outreach aimed at promoting education, dignity, and child welfare.
The outreach, held on Monday, June 16, coincided with this year’s Day of the African Child theme, “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child.” The initiative focused on addressing educational barriers facing children in hard-to-reach fishing communities, particularly girls vulnerable to school dropout due to period poverty.
A total of 426 children received assorted scholastic materials, including exercise books, pens, pencils, and mathematical sets, while 248 girls benefited from sanitary pads, soap, and menstrual hygiene awareness sessions under the foundation’s ongoing period poverty campaign.
Speaking during the event, Buyende District Chairperson Mr. Sharif Mangaraine said children living in fishing communities continue to face significant challenges accessing education and other social services, limiting their future opportunities.
“Children in fishing communities are deprived of education and miss many opportunities for gainful employment due to lack of qualifications,” Mangaraine said. “Education records show that many girls drop out of school because of menstrual-related challenges.”
He pledged to advocate for the establishment of safe spaces for girls and the provision of emergency sanitary materials in schools across the district.
“Water for health and hygiene still remains a challenging dream for the children amidst meagre resources in the district, but shared responsibility and effort go a long way to put smiles, hope, and inspiration on the faces of children whose future we strive to build, secure, and protect,” he remarked.
Mangaraine also called upon development partners and charitable organizations to extend support to underserved rural communities.
“I urge organizations to emulate Becky’s Child Foundation by reaching out to needy communities in rural and remote areas that remain in the shadow of resources and NGOs because this is where genuine and critical services are needed,” he added.
The district leader further advocated for the revival of sexuality education and parenting programmes to equip parents with skills to guide children through adolescence and help address the growing challenges affecting young people.
Rebecca Alitwala Mubeezi, the Chief Executive Officer of Becky’s Child Foundation, said the organization remains committed to advancing girl-child education, women’s empowerment, and support for vulnerable children and adolescents.
She noted that many children, especially girls, remain a forgotten constituency whose future could be compromised if targeted interventions are not implemented.
“Remain focused on your studies. Success requires discipline, determination, making the most of the opportunities before you, and above all, trust and fear of God, the source of wisdom,” Mubeezi told the learners.
She also encouraged children to nurture their talents and creativity, noting that modern societies increasingly reward innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills development alongside formal education.
Foundation Manager Ms. Diana Kisakye revealed that Becky’s Child Foundation has supported more than 500 vulnerable children through education, healthcare, mentorship, and empowerment initiatives.
According to Kisakye, the organization has also implemented programmes targeting girls and women, promoted awareness on kidney disease prevention, and spearheaded community development interventions aimed at improving livelihoods.
“Becky’s Child Foundation has inspired a generation, touched countless lives, continues to break barriers, ignite hope, and put smiles on the faces of vulnerable children, adolescents, and women,” she said.
The outreach concluded with renewed calls for collective action to address barriers to education, improve menstrual hygiene management, and ensure every child has an opportunity to realize their full potential regardless of where they are born.
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