Strides for Students

Strides for Students is an initiative that combines my two loves: running and education. I have committed to donating one dollar for every mile that I run towards a year long scholarship for a child to attend Namasagali Primary School in rural Uganda, which has been Gifft Hill’s sister school for the past eight years. I’m an avid runner, so the total will definitely add up very quickly.

The idea for this project came to life about a year ago after my home of St. John in the US Virgin Islands was hit with two CAT five hurricanes. So many people came to the rescue to try to help in any way they could bringing food items, school supplies, and building equipment. But the one thing that made the biggest difference is that the school that I attend (Gifft Hill School) received donations that allowed it to waive tuition for the year. This allowed for families to have less financial stress and assured them that their child would be able to attend school when there were so many unknowns. To this day people are still helping and 85% of the children that attend GHS get some form of financial assistance. With all the good that the Virgin Islands receives it is now our turn to pay it forward.

I first visited Uganda in 2017 as part of a service learning trip with my school. My time while in Uganda was spent working with the children that attend Namasagali Primary School. We focused on helping them with their lunch program as well as the gardens at the school. While in Uganda I was able to see first hand how much kids there value their education. I have never seen kids so excited to be able to go to school not only to be able to play with their friends but to learn and gain more knowledge for themselves. These kids at such a young age knew that the only way to better their lives is through their education.

Through Strides for Students I hope to be able to give the children that live in Namasagali the opportunity to be able to attend school for another year. It only cost fifty-six dollars to send a child to school for a year and allows them to get a meal which is usually their only meal for the day. I want to be able to help other students not have to worry if they will be able to attend school. Being able to get an education should be something that everyone has the opportunity to receive. As Nelson Mandela said "Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world." My goal is to raise $2000. With 90% of that going to Namasagali student scholarships and 10% staying on St. John to help in my backyard at local schools.