HOPE

Marjoriewilliams

Cathy!

Facts found online indicate that more than 700,000 girls in Uganda between 6 and 12 have never attended school. Half the girls between 15 and 24 are illiterate and 4 in 5 girls don’t attend high school. It is common for young girls to drop out of school because of early marriage and pregnancy Poverty is the largest contributor to the lack of education for girls Quite often they are expected to work at home, and take care of the children Because of their lack of education, sexual assaults continue on a regular basis and these girls are highly susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases These diseases, then prevent them from being educated The circle goes round and round Another issue young girls face is their menstrual cycle With lack of resources for hygiene, the girls are too embarrassed to go to school This is the cycle we hope to break with the girls and boys that we are supporting

Educated mothers are more than twice as likely to ensure the education of their children

Educated mothers are more likely to earn higher wages than an uneducated person

Educated girls would see a reduction in child marriage and births and would increase the standard of living across Uganda and reduce poverty

Educated women are more likely to invest back into families

Education is the answer. It is the one thing that nobody can take away from them.

H.O.P.E. is committed to helping educate all 24 children, giving them the opportunity that they never knew existed. An opportunity of education which would provide for them a chance to break the cycle of poverty that they are in.

Currently all 24 children, half girls, half boys are being educated. Most are in boarding schools where they live during their schooling terms, and back to the home while they are on break

The youngest, Jeremiah, is five years old and is in kindergarten. The oldest, Nelson, is 22 year old and currently is in law school. Cathy, our recent high school graduate, told us seven years ago she wanted to be a teacher, and we are so proud that in September she will set her dreams in place.

These children have big goals, which, seven years ago, could only be a dream. Because of the support from so many, these dreams are becoming realities.

Our motto truly is “Be kind”, “Be True”, “Be Your Best Self” and “Be The Change”. Together we can do it.

If anyone would like to help out with the progress we have been making so far, we would love to have your support. Please feel free to contact us at:

HOPEinNL@gmail.com or simply check out our Facebook page at HOPE (Helping Orphans Prosper through Education).

HOPEinNL@gmail.com https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD have a known difference, such as a genetic condition. Other causes are not yet known. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop. We still have much to learn about these causes and how they impact people with ASD.

People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. There is often nothing about how they look that sets them apart from other people. The abilities of people with ASD can vary significantly. For example, some people with ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas others may be nonverbal. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others can work and live with little to no support.

ASD begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person’s life, although symptoms may improve over time. Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.

As children with ASD become adolescents and young adults, they may have difficulties developing and maintaining friendships, communicating with peers and adults, or understanding what behaviors are expected in school or on the job. They may come to the attention of healthcare providers because they also have conditions such as anxiety, depression, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which occur more often in people with ASD than in people without ASD.