Action In Africa Inc falls under the International Relief category: Organizations that work to relieve poverty in developing countries by providing funds, technical assistance and supplies which improve the health, education, welfare, social well-being and self-reliance of individuals and families. Also included are organizations that provide relief services in response to a major disaster or large-scale emergency that occurs abroad.
We believe that sustainable impact starts with local leadership. For that reason we have created a community-led organization dedicated to advancing the economic and personal development of the women and children in Nakuwadde, Uganda, through greater access to education and other life-changing resources.
Through education children are set up to thrive in all areas of life, for this reason we have developed the Primary Partnership Program. The PPP is administered through carefully selected primary partner schools, and at the AIA community center. It includes a nutrition intervention program, thoughtfully curated classroom instruction that complements the curriculum set by the Ministry of Education and Sports, an after school program, and weekly Primary Leaving Exam preparatory classes.
This program is designed to complement, and in many cases supplement, the educational opportunities for primary-age children in Nakuwadde. This program works directly with local schools, teachers, and parents, to provide holistic, gender-inclusive educational programming that ensures children in the community have access to the resources they need to learn and grow.
Through our secondary and university scholarship programs, AIA awards merit-based scholarships to 25 graduating Primary 7 students, and five graduating Secondary 6 students every year. In the last five years AIA has awarded 503 secondary scholarships, 56% of which were awarded to girls, and 10 university scholarships, 60% of which were awarded to young women.
The Action In Africa Secondary & University Scholarship Programs are designed for the students who successfully complete the national examinations administered by the Ministry of Education & Sports. Once students have passed the examination, Action In Africa works with the teachers at our partner schools to identify scholarship candidates. By working in partnership with schools and awarding annual merit-based secondary and university scholarships, our programs are designed to have a long-term impact in Nakuwadde.
Action in Africa’s Women-to-Women program is a holistic initiative that provides women of the community with free access to educational opportunities designed to empower them with skills they can use in every aspect of their lives. It is composed of a diverse array of free classes and educational opportunities including adult English classes, computer classes, a weekly support group, first aid training, agricultural classes, family planning and personal finance workshops, a savings program, and access to a licensed counselor.
Members come together every Friday at the center to enjoy breakfast while they discuss the challenges and opportunities they are currently facing with our licensed counselor, Robinah. Guest speakers often visit to engage the women in thoughtful dialogue around various topics, and members partake in the many additional opportunities offered as part of this program. We believe that living in community is vital to the mental health of the women in Uganda.
Action In Africa strives to provide comprehensive services that meet a range of needs expressed by the Nakuwadde community. In partnership with Alive Medical Services, an Uganda-based organization, we coordinate semi-annual medical outreach events at the community center. These events work to make sure the physical and mental health needs of the individuals in our community are being met. All the services are free.
Each event draws hundreds of people and the services available include: confidential HIV testing, mental health counseling, deworming, anti-malarial medication, and haircuts!