Child: Dorine Akello

Unable to regularly attend school due to an inability to pay, Dorine is 13 years old and in the 4th grade. Her father has died and she is cared for by an older brother, who has a family of his own and also struggles to care for another sibling and her child.

An interview with Dorine
I like studying, reading. I want to excel in my exams so I pass to the next class and become a teacher. I like my classmates. I want to teach other kids. I like social studies. I like geography, physical features [proceeds to list the mountains and rivers in Uganda at interviewer's request].

Studying and spending time with my friends makes me happy. We normally go and play at break.

At home, I go to the well and fetch water and help with washing dishes. I eat and read exercise books then go to bed.

I’m being chased away from school because I don’t have school fees. If I got someone to help me with my fees I would be very happy and say thank and tell them about the problems I face at home.

Fees: 13,400 Ugandan shillings per term.
Three terms = 40,200 Ush. (~US $20/yr).
Must also purchase school uniform for 15,000 USh (~US $7.50), a broom, toilet paper and exercise books
Total school sponsorship: US $40/yr.