Universal Child Support Fund
Education, skills and hope for children affected by HIV in Uganda
Mildmay Uganda’s Universal Fund is a lifeline for children, young people, and families living with HIV.
We provide a holistic "wrap-around" model of care: healthcare, education, food security, and economic empowerment.
Children affected by HIV in Uganda face overlapping barriers: poverty, stigma, disrupted education and limited access to opportunity. Through the Universal Child Support Fund, our local partner, Mildmay Uganda, provides education, skills training, and holistic support, enabling children and young people to build stable, independent futures.
Recent funding shortfalls have sharply reduced access to formal education, but with renewed support, this can change.
Children supported by the Universal Fund in 2021
Why this programme matters
Why your support is needed
Children affected by HIV are more likely to experience interrupted education, food insecurity and long-term poverty. For many families, school fees, uniforms and basic supplies are simply unaffordable.
Education and skills training remain among the most effective ways to break this cycle, improving health outcomes, economic resilience and long-term independence.
Mildmay Uganda’s approach recognises that children do not experience challenges in isolation. That is why the Universal Fund combines education with psychosocial support, healthcare access and family strengthening.
What the Universal Fund does
What the Universal Children’s Support Fund provides
Since 2002, the Universal Fund has supported vulnerable children and young people through a holistic package of care, including:
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Access to primary and secondary education
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Vocational and skills training for young people
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Psychosocial and family support
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Food and nutrition support, where needed
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Ongoing follow-up by social workers
Since 2017, the programme has operated as a universal fund rather than individual sponsorship, ensuring support is allocated based on need and reaches the most vulnerable children equitably
Adolescents and young people taking part in a facilitated adherence dialogue session, supported by a trained mentor or health worker, in a safe, informal group setting.
Impact at a glance
Our impact so far:
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1,980+ children and young people supported since 2002
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Education and skills training delivered across multiple districts
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Thousands of families reached through integrated support
What happened recently
Years of challenge and why support matters now
Like many community programmes, the Universal Fund has been affected by reduced funding following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024:
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No children were supported through formal primary or secondary education
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25 young people accessed vocational and skills training
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Family and psychosocial support continued where possible
This reflects funding constraints, not reduced need. Demand for education and support remains high, and restoring access to schooling is an urgent priority.
Mildmay Uganda continues to play a significant role in advancing the United Nations’ five-point plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
How Much is a Child's Education in Uganda?
Cost per year:
Your impact
Primary school
£223
Provides the foundation for a life of self-reliance.
Secondary school
£287
Protects adolescents from exploitation and empowers their future.
Vocational training
£511
Delivers immediate, marketable skills for a sustainable livelihood.
Photo by Workman House
2024 Report
Summary of programme participation by supported Orphans, 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
0
295
0
13
30
50
25
118
0
7
7
2
0
16
0
3
3
1
0
7
These trends highlight not a reduction in need, but the importance of restoring education support, which remains central to empowering young people and strengthening communities over the long term.
Reduced funding has limited access to formal education in recent years. During this period, the programme prioritised socio-economic skills training, reaching more adolescents and young people between 2021 and 2023, before activity declined again in 2024.
Why skills training matters
Evidence consistently shows that skills development improves social and economic outcomes, strengthening individual resilience while contributing to wider community stability. Through socio-economic skills training, young people supported by Mildmay Uganda gain practical tools to build secure livelihoods and more hopeful futures for themselves and their families.
Case Studies: Stories of Change
Living Proof: Ruth’s Journey to Nursing
Ruth grew up in a rural community over 190km from Kampala. At age 12, she was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Living in a household of ten where her father struggled as a peasant farmer, Ruth’s dream of becoming a nurse seemed impossible.
Through the Universal Fund, Ruth was enrolled in Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) and supported through school, from Primary One all the way through to Nursing School.
“Due to our meagre household income, I had no hopes of joining school. My father could not afford the school fees. My dream was shattered. Today, I am a qualified nurse. I can give back to my community, and one day, I will hold someone’s hand too!” says Ruth.
Ruth is one of 1,200 girls whose lives have been transformed through the Orphans and Vulnerable Children/Youth (OVCY) Initiative led by Mildmay Hospital Uganda.
Catherine’s story
Working as a Young People and Adolescent Peer Supporter
Catherine Nassanga, 22, grew up in Kampala and had been receiving care at Mildmay Uganda since childhood after losing both parents to HIV. Despite maintaining good treatment adherence and achieving viral suppression, stigma within her family interrupted her education.
Through Mildmay Uganda’s support, Catherine was able to return to school, complete her secondary education, and later gain a certificate in guidance and counselling.
She is now working as a Young People and Adolescent Peer Supporter, helping other adolescents access HIV testing, treatment, adherence support and counselling services.
With her earnings, Catherine enrolled for a diploma in guidance and counselling and graduated as a professional counsellor in 2022, while continuing to support her peers and family.
Catherine training her peers
Graduating as a counsellor in 2022
Skills for Independence
Economic stability is the foundation of health. For young mothers like Tracy, vocational training is the difference between poverty and a career. After joining our hairdressing apprenticeship, Tracy now earns approximately £21 per week, a significant income that allows her to save for her own salon and keep her younger siblings in school.
Since 2020, Mildmay Uganda has equipped over 100 girls with apprenticeship skills, enabling them to earn an income, gain independence, and save for the future.
A tailoring class (vocational training)
Soap making (vocational training)
Help restore opportunity
In recent years, global funding cuts have sharply reduced the resources available for education and skills programmes provided by Mildmay Uganda.
In 2024, demand for education and skills support far exceeded available funding
As funds were redirected to protect essential health services, universal education and skills activities could not continue in 2025. The need has not diminished, only the resources.