July Update - NCLC and Nabugabo

It is now over 14 weeks since Uganda implemented one of the strictest lockdowns in Africa to curb the pandemic and, to date, it has successfully kept cases relatively low with no attributed deaths. The Government has relaxed some of the restrictions but many remain including the closures of all schools which includes NCLC. Schools will not open until September at the earliest.

With the restrictions and ongoing lockdown, many families are being pushed towards extreme poverty with limited access to food and basic necessities.

A Save the Children report dated May 2020 found 56% of Ugandans had noticed an increase in child labour since the beginning of lockdown. Moreover, the United Nations warned in June that the pandemic has put millions of children worldwide at risk of being pushed into labour, reversing two decades of work to combat the practice.

Faced by these alarming facts, we are so grateful for, and proud of, all of our staff working within the community at Nabugabo. Whilst the school is closed, they have all worked tirelessly to look after the community especially the vulnerable and young. Community initiatives run by the staff include the handing out of essential food supplies via the village chairperson, ensuring those in need of essential medical care are transported to hospital, regular monitoring of all NCLC school children particularly from a physical and mental well-being perspective and ensuring all the children have access to, and help with, home education packs.

We at HUGE also want to thank all of our Supporters who have provided the means for Headmaster Vincent and his team to provide the help so desperately needed. Without your continued support none of this help would be able to happen. An enormous, heartfelt thank you from all at Nabugabo and HUGE.