Fathers in Kamuli district are taking up the responsibility of enrolling out of school children into education through outreaches into the community. They have been able to return 136 children back into classrooms in the past 12 months.
James is a member of the Baba Club (father’s club) in his community in Kamuli district. It’s a group of 35 fathers in the community whose goal is to ensure that men take up the responsibility of supporting children’s enrollment and completion of education.
James says that upon forming the group, members were oriented on the significance of male engagement in the children’s wellbeing including education. “At first, we used to leave the sole responsibility of our children’s education to our wives. We used not to attend school meetings and did not even know the Head teachers,” says James. He adds that now fathers are fully involved in school affairs. “We contribute to school development plans and our ideas are implemented,” says James. He adds that Baba clubs have played a key role in bridging education related issues between communities and the school. “We take up issues affecting communities to the school, we discuss and find solutions,” says James.
“We contribute to school development plans and our ideas are implemented.”
James, Baba Club member
Community outreaches yield results
James says that at the beginning of every new school term the Baba Club goes to communities and mobilises children to enroll and return to school. “Communities now recognise us and do not ask who we are. One day we found an old woman with 8 children at home and supported her to take back the children to school,” explains James.
Julius, another Baba Club member, says he supported a neighbour to enroll her 2 children who were staying at home. “I asked her why the children were not in school and she said she had not paid a balance of 5,000 for school fees.” Julius adds that the children are back in school.
Through outreaches into the community, the Baba Club has been able to return 136 children who were out of school back into classrooms in the past 12 months. “When we realised the structures were not enough, we mobilised materials and constructed an extra classroom block for our children,” shares James.
Saving for school fees
James says that the fathers have formed a Village Savings Loan Association (VSLA) to enable them pay school fees for the children. The group meets on a weekly basis to make their savings. From the collection each member is allowed to borrow some money. “The VSLA has enabled us pay school fees for our children. We are able to borrow money and can return it at an agreed time. This has supported children’s education not to be interrupted,” James explains. He adds that during the mobilisation exercise, the club encourages other fathers struggling to pay school fees for their children to join the club and enroll in the VSLA. At the close of every cycle the group has savings up to 700,000 that it shares out among members to cater for family needs like children’s health, and basic family necessities.
Fathers spearheading healthy school feeding
James says the fathers prioritise among other issues the children’s nutrition, noting that the group plants fruit trees in the school compounds including oranges, mangoes and avocados. “We have planted a banana plantation at the school to supplement school feeding,” says James.
About the Baba club project
Plan International Uganda in partnership with Stromme Foundation is implementing the RISING project; a 4 year (2022-2025) quality and inclusive education project, RISING stands for, “Reaching and Enrolling Out Of School Children Including Refugee Boys and Girls in Schools in Uganda” which the Baba Club is a part of.
Bob Ocilo, Project Manager at the RISING project says the project’s ultimate goal is to contribute to the enrolment of 100,000 out-of-school children, especially girls, in marginalised and refugee communities in 9 districts (Adjumani, Mad-Okollo, Obongi ,Yumbe, Nebbi, Lira, Alebtong, Kamuli and Buyende) of Uganda.
The RISING project is on a mission to increase access to quality primary education and learning and educate every child in partnership with Education Above All Foundation’s Educate A Child programme.
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