World Vision

When you turn on the road to Nkozi at Kayawbe there's a sign that says World Vision, Nkozi. Unfortunately, World Vision closed their office and left a bunch of kids high and dry. Like many organizations, World Vision pays school fees for needy children. Of course, "needy kids" can define much of the area population.

Given that the median age is 15 and that the average per capita income is about $453 per year (and with the world economy being as it is, income is projected to decrease next year), most residents of the area can be defined as needy children and youth.

The first we (meaning folks at UMU) knew about World Vision closing their office was when kids started showing up on campus looking for work. One teenage girl came to the house of Sr. Cecilia and Sr. Lucy wanting to know if they needed someone to clean and do laundry. Sr. Cecilia talked with the girl and found out that she needed money for school fees. Unfortunately, the school year had already started, the first term was well underway and there was no way for the girl to catch up so she has lost the year. Sr. Cecilia said she will talk to Sr. Sanyu at St. Mary's and arrange for the girl to go there next year. The girl will work for Srs. Cecila and Lucy as a way of earning her school fees.

World Vision left the kids high and dry. This girl said no one told her that the office was closing until she found out her school fees were not paid. No offense, but World Vision went way down on my list of reputable charities. I can understand closing an office, but I cannot understand doing it without making some plans to assist the children who are being helped, or at least informing them of the plan.

Fortunately, the sisters will pick up the slack, but the kid still loses a year of school and the sisters really don't have those kind of extra resources. School fees for a day scholar (non-boarding student) are less than $200 per year. For $200 a kid can get a uniform, shoes, socks, go on the school trip and have all their tuition paid. It's not right for World Vision to drop kids like that while painting a rosy picture of what wonderful work they do. Figures the nuns pick up the slack.