Uganda’s education system is at risk. Over 1.2 million children drop out of primary school each year, according to UNEB. In some rural districts like Maracha in West Nile, dropout rates have hit a staggering 93%—a crisis fueled by poverty, child labor, early marriages, and lack of essential resources.
But one teenager is refusing to stand by.
Jewel Michaels, through her Foundation, is directly addressing these systemic issues. Her programs aim to:
-
Raise awareness among parents and communities about the value of education.
-
Provide school packs, sanitary pads, and essential supplies to keep children, especially girls, in school.
-
Offer scholarships to the most vulnerable—orphans, refugee children, teen mothers, and victims of trafficking.
Jewel believes that changing these statistics requires not only government intervention but also community involvement, faith-based action, and youth leadership.
Her recent outreach in Kyanja, where she distributed school packs and gave motivational talks, is just one example of her hands-on approach.
