Supporting Students and Families - Asiimwe Amim

Amim Asiimwe is the eldest of four children. After his father died in 2005 his mother struggled to keep her eldest son in high school, but with support from a community organisation he managed to complete high school with good enough grades to be offered a place at college.

At first Amim did not believe it would be possible to take up this opportunity, but his timing was very fortunate. A few months previously he had met the Jo Burton, the founder of Friends of Bwindi, during the visit that inspired her to start our organisation. We decided to sponsor Amim's college course as our very first project.

Amim has now almost completed a two year diploma course at Makerere University Business School in Kampala, fully sponsored by Friends of Bwindi. He is due to complete the course early 2010.

We have also helped to cover some family costs, as Amim has three younger siblings and his mother struggles to keep them all in school, especially as his brother has just completed his first year of high school. High school education in Uganda is not free, and as well as tuition fees, uniform, books and stationary, students from rural areas often need to find boarding fees as the schools are too far away to attend as day pupils. Amim's sister completed her primary education this year and hopes to go to high school next term.

Please contact us if you would like to support Amim's brother and sister and students like them.

Amim's fees and other costs were supported by a number of people, including many from the unofficial ebay charity group the Monthly Daft Charity Coalition (MDCC).

Before beginning his course, Amim told us 'My ambition from childhood was to see me and the community prosper, which I plan to achieve. After my education I plan to go back to the village and help the people of Bwindi'.

In fact Amim did not wait for the end of his course. Inspired by charity appeals on TV, Amim rented a PO box in Kampala and started his own parcel appeal, requesting clothes, educational materials and gifts for orphaned and vulnerable children and widows in his village. Sponsors and supporters have sent lots of parcels for Amim to distribute, plus a camera so that he can take photos for supporters to see online. Lots of children have already benefitted, and Amim plans to make a short visit home during his vacation (December 2009) when he will distribute the gifts from his parcel apppeal. We are delighted that Amim has made such good use of his time in Kampala. Amim has made a website for the appeal with the help of a Friends of Bwindi volunteer - visit Amim's Orphan Appeal website.

Make a donation to our fund for Amim's expenses online using a credit or debit card or your Paypal account

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You can also make a postal donation by cheque or postal order. Find out how