Universal Child Sponsorship Fund
Mildmay Uganda’s Universal Fund brings healthcare, education, food security and economic empowerment to children, young people and families living with HIV.
It is only because of your support that 10-year-old Nantume can attend school. Thank you!
Since its introduction in 2002, the Child Sponsorship Fund has supported 1,964 children and adolescents (876 boys and 1,088 girls) with psychosocial support services, including economic empowerment of vulnerable households.
It is important to note that the Universal Child Sponsorship Fund in 2023 supported 9 individuals (4 boys and 5 girls) with formal education while 32 received apprenticeship skills empowerment. There has been a significant reduction in the number of OVC (orphans and vulnerable children) supported for formal education from 96 in 2022 to 9 in 2023 due to a decline in charitable donations. However, the number of OVCs receiving apprenticeship skills remained constant.
In 2017, Mildmay Uganda replaced individually allocated support for children with the Universal Fund to bring the same healthcare, education and food security benefits more equitably to more children and young people.
Mildmay Uganda continues to make significant contributions toward the United Nations five-point plan for ending HIV by 2030.
2023 Report
Education support
A total of five candidates were supported to sit for their final examinations, out of whom two sat for Primary Leaving Examinations, one sat for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, and two were supported to complete their vocational skills attainment.
Due to financial constraints, despite the performances, the children will be supported with social economic skills training.
Summary performance of supported Orphans and other Vulnerable Children and Youth (OVCY)
Year
Formal education
Socio-economic skills
Vocational skills
Tertiary education
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Total
129
65
96
5
3
298
-
13
30
50
50
143
-
7
7
2
-
16
-
3
3
1
1
8
There is a significant decrease in the number of children/young people supported through the Universal Fund. This is attributed to the decreasing amount of donations being received in the UK.
OVCY Strategy for 2024
Enhanced Social Economic Strengthening (SES) for vocational skills/Apprenticeship where the OVCY will be supported to aquire Social Economic Skills (SES)/vocational skills if funds are available.
Economic Strengthening
Economic well-being and the ability to provide for one’s household is the foundation for behavioural change; a significant contributor to ending the HIV epidemic.
Mildmay Uganda implements the economic strengthening model to mitigate economic shock for the most vulnerable
households that could potentially affect uptake or retention in HIV care. HIV and AIDS are known to further exacerbate pre-existing economic vulnerability by interrupting income streams, depleting assets and introducing labour constraints. In addition, poverty limits the uptake and impact of HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment services.
A tailoring class (vocational training).
Mildmay supported adolescents and young people with livelihood skills. The apprenticeship programme aimed at supporting adolescents and young people with hands-on skills like hair plaiting. A total of 50 OVCY trained. The fund also supported vocational skills among which electrical installation and maintenance.
To enhance the family approach to care, a total of 893 (90% caregivers) individuals are in different Village Savings and Loan Association groups within the different communities.
Providing Education support for a sustainable livelihood: Ruth Kansiime
Ruth lives an impactful life after being integrated into formal education. Thanks to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children/Youth Initiative (OVCY) supported by Mildmay Uganda. Ruth grew up in the rural area of Kasiina village, Kyenjojo district western Uganda, located over 190 kilometres from Kampala.
Ruth grew up with her parents and her seven siblings (of whom five were girls). Her childhood was defined by poor access to healthcare services, poor and dilapidated housing, and misery. Life was not easy for her family because of a meagre income. Ruth’s father was a peasant farmer who would grow food crops mainly for home consumption. The situation worsened in 2002 when Ruth, at the age of 12 years, was admitted to Mildmay Hospital Uganda with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS.
Through the Orphan and Vulnerable Children/Youth Initiative, Mildmay Hospital Uganda identified and supported Ruth in pursuing her dream. Ruth was enrolled on Antiretroviral Treatment and offered supportive care and treatment upon admission.
After six months, she was discharged to her home. Through the OVCY program, Ruth was supported with school fees from Primary One until the completion of her dream of being a Nurse. “Due to our meagre household income, I had no hopes of joining school. My father could not afford the school fees. My dream of being a Nurse was shattered,” says Ruth.
Ruth is one of the 1,200 girls who have had their lives transformed by the Mildmay Hospital Uganda OVCY Initiative.
Upon identification and support by Mildmay Hospital Uganda, Ruth was enrolled into primary education and eventually Nursing school. Today, she is a practising nurse with a certificate in Nursing. "We have continuously supported Ruth to attain her career goal. She attained a certificate in Nursing from St. Ambrose Institute of Health Sciences in Kagadi–Kibaale District in 2021. We are happy that she will bring happiness and total transformation to her family and community. Ruth is among the 2,000 vulnerable children that have been supported by the Mildmay Hospital Uganda-led Orphan and Vulnerable Children/Youth initiative to date,” says Agnes Nakanwagi, Psychosocial services Manager, Mildmay Hospital Uganda.
“I have acquired interpersonal, communication, computer, and many other skills in related to the nursing profession that will help me with good client care and rapport with my patients. I am also in an HIV/AIDS club that promotes prevention services contributing to HIV/AIDS epidemic control. I participate in youth dialogues in efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in the community. I got an opportunity to volunteer at God’s Grace Health Centre 1V in Kyenjojo district to perfect my nursing skills. I will be able to give back to my community and one day I will hold someone's hand too!" says Ruth happily.
Started in 2003, the program reaches out to vulnerable and marginalized children (aged 6 to 24 years). Led by social workers and ‘community resourceful persons’. Working with community leaders, the beneficiaries of the OVCY Initiative are identified and supported for a sustainable livelihood. “I am very grateful that Mildmay Hospital supported my daughter Ruth when I had no hope of giving her an education. She was able to access quality Health services, psychosocial services, and education support. I will forever be grateful. Thank you, Mildmay Hospital,” says Ruth’s father.
In 2017/18, 5,643,654 orphans and other Vulnerable Children and Youth (OVCY) were supported across the six core programme areas; economic strengthening, food security and nutritional support, psychosocial and basic care, child protection and legal support.
952,555 households were provided with social services, including Education.
OVC Database 2018, Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development
Mildmay seeks to empower communities for healthier lives among these empowerment initiatives is the support for education.
Case study: Catherine Nassanga
“My name is Nassanga Catherine, am 22 years old and live in Konge, Makindye, Kampala District with my impaired grandmother. I have been an orphan since 2007 as I lost my parents due to HIV/AIDS.
In 2008, I discovered that I was HIV positive and enrolled for care and treatment at Mildmay Uganda Hospital. Since then, I have been taking my drugs well with good adherence and my viral load is undetectable, but after I completed my Primary Leaving Examination Level in 2014 with 14 Aggregates; my aunt stigmatised me due to my HIV status and stopped her support.
In 2009 I joined Mildmay Uganda Choir which is a club that offers peer support services in music, dance and drama skills. I was regularly active and in 2014 I was recommended for education support from the Mildmay Uganda OVC program. In 2014 I joined Ordinary level and completed in 2018 with 50 Aggregates. Due to my performance, I was supported to acquire a certificate in guidance and counselling from the Mildmay Institute of Health sciences, which I completed in 2021 and also successfully competed for a YAPS (Young People and Adolescent Peer Supporters) position.
I am now providing others with support in mobilising and linking peers for HIV testing services; index case testing; conducting pre-test peer counselling and information giving; tracking and following up all identified HIV positive adolescents and young people and linking them to care and treatment.
I am also supporting health workers to run adolescent clinics that are conducting health education; pre- ART counselling; physically escorting Adolescent and Young People through service points; appointment tracking and monitoring; following up of lost clients; adherence support to adolescents and supporting peers to disclose to significant others.
With my earnings, I have enrolled for the Diploma in Guidance and Counselling to be a professional counsellor.
I am very grateful for the gift of life and career opportunities facilitated by my friends at Mildmay Uganda. I am happy that I will be able to support my siblings hereafter.
Thank you so much to the Mildmay family. I will forever be grateful to you for upholding my future.”
Catherine at graduation in 2014
Working as a Young People and Adolescent Peer Supporter
Catherine training her peers
Graduating as a counsellor in 2022