BY ZALIMON BASIGHALHA (GOOD LUCK)
Hellen Petronilla Masika, the Deputy Executive Director of the Microfinance Support Centre- MSC Uganda has extended her charity to some ten vulnerable girls at Rwenzori High School in Ibanda-Kyanya Town Council, Busongora County North in Kasese district.
Masika, who recently attended a careers Day at the school premises, decided to support the ten girls from different classes at the school after she was notified by the school management that they were frequently being chased out of school due to their parents’ and guardians’ failure to pay school fees and other required scholastic materials.
Speaking to the press today morning, Masika, who is an Old Girl of the school, said she thought to be of value to support the vulnerable girls through paying school fees and availing other scholastic requirements for four academic years.
Apofia Nyangoma and Provia Nyakato both in S.3 couldn’t hide their excitement after the news landing into their ears.
The twins whose dream is to be Doctors narrated how they were being chased out of classes due to their parents’ failure to clear school fees. They said have regained hope of completing their secondary level of education without any interference.
Jennifer Biira, a Senior Two student who would also benefit from Masika’s support said had almost given up on continuing with studies after her parents’ revelation that they might not afford her school fees for the next academic terms due to their low levels of income.
However, Nyangoma, Nyakato and Biira some of the girls that would benefit from the support mentioned thata section of the girls especially at both levels drop out of schools due to their parents’ alleged failure to provide them with basic requirement including sanitary pads which forces some of them to absent themselves and later get demoralized to go back to school.
They said the lack of sanitary pads does not only force them to drop out of schools but also force them to love affairs at a tender age, which in the end contribute to early pregnancies and early marriages among the Girl child.
Asked about the provision of reusable sanitary pads to students, Hellen Petronilla Masika said that she is in plans to start up a charitable organization specifically to donate reusable sanitary pads in order to address the problem of school drop outs in Kasese district and Rwenzori sub-region at large.
Mr. Enock Mugabi Ssebulibe, the Head teacher of Rwenzori High School appreciated the support by one of their products adding that this would aid their smooth learning process which would help them score their goals. ENDS