ChildrenUP at a Glance

Comparisons of Financial Support

ChildrenUP works with schools in the following districts: Gulu, Nwoya, Omoro and Amuru of northern Uganda. Our Ugandan office is located in Gulu, Uganda.

ChildrenUP supports post-primary education by offering scholarships to qualified students for further education.  

We provide the two-fold package:  

Mentoring:  Our in-school and student advocates provide for students’ needs and concerns, help with payment of expenses, and foster communication with parents and guardians.

Funding:  We pay tuition and fees, room and board, supplies and transportation for each student. 

Our selection criteria is based on students with strong primary 7 leaving exam grades, strong work ethics, financial need and family support for education   

We select our students by reviewing the results from the district’s mock exams at the end of primary seven. This establishes a beginning list of possible beneficiaries.  Only after the ChildrenUP Uganda staff interviews the student, the teachers and the family does a particular young person become a beneficiary.

We strive to invite equal numbers of young men and women who meet the criteria. 

ChildrenUP funds a student for six years. Any education beyond that point is cost-shared.

The Ugandan Educational System:

• Seven years of primary school

• Four years O levels [Ordinary secondary school]

• Students can then go to one of the following: 

  • A levels [Advanced secondary school]

  • Certificate program

• Student can then go to one of the following:

  • Diploma program

  • Degree programs

Ages of the students completing grade 7 range from 12 to 18 because of the availability of primary education in the different districts.

ChildrenUP has brought educational opportunity to 81 students from 2008- 2023.

We have 40 secondary students in 2023.
11 students are in higher education in 2023.

Our 19 student alumni are in the following fields: Nursing, Medical Lab Technician, Water and Sanitation Engineering, Computer Science, Fashion Design and Teaching.

ChildrenUP has a success rate of 87%.

Students starting in 2010 through students starting in 2018:  total of 42 students who began the program,  35 completed 4 years  83% success rate.

Student continuing on beyond 4 year  [students starting in 2010 through students starting in 2016]  35 started and 33 completed either A levels or certificate program  a 94% success rate.

From students starting in 2019 to the present 36 started and 31 are currently involved within the secondary schools.

Covid has been challenging for student success all around the world.

Example of expenses for One year in the 2023

ChildrenUP strives to put the highest percentage of donations to fund our educational mission: 

Our net income is safely managed so that these students have the funds for 6 years of education if they annually met our criteria of strong grades, discipline and communication with the mentors.

Our volunteer Board members on average provide over 65 hours/week doing the work of ChildrenUP.