By Wilson Oganan
SOROTI — More than 50 vulnerable school-going children in Soroti City have received scholastic materials and household items in a donation drive aimed at keeping disadvantaged learners in school and restoring hope among struggling families.
The support was delivered through a partnership between Friends at Heart and Soroti Fruits Limited, benefiting children from Nakatunya, Kichinjaji, and Moruapesur wards.
Items distributed included mattresses, exercise books, pens, soap, and Teju juice, among other essential supplies intended to support both learning and household welfare.
The donation brought excitement and relief to many beneficiaries, especially single mothers and widows who have been struggling to provide basic educational needs for their children amid rising living costs.
Several parents said the increasing cost of school requirements has placed heavy pressure on families, forcing some parents to choose between buying food and paying for educational materials.
They described the support as timely and life-changing, saying it would help children remain in school and improve their concentration in class.
“This support has come at the right time. Many of us have been struggling to provide even simple scholastic materials for our children,” one parent said during the distribution exercise.
Local leaders praised the initiative and described it as a major intervention for vulnerable families in Soroti City.
Emmanuel Iikot Adwong, the LC1 Chairperson of West Cell in Kichinjaji Ward, applauded the donors for supporting children who are at risk of dropping out of school due to poverty.
“This kind of support is very important because many families here are struggling financially. Some children are likely to abandon school because their parents cannot afford scholastic materials,” Adwong said.
Fatuma Ikulumet also commended the initiative, noting that economic hardships have left many parents unable to meet the educational needs of their children.
She appealed to more organizations, companies, and well-wishers to support vulnerable families and help improve access to education in the community.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Friends at Heart, Francis Omoding, revealed that the organization has operated for the last three years without external funding but has remained committed to supporting vulnerable communities.
Omoding called upon development partners and people of goodwill to support the organization’s mission of restoring hope among needy children and disadvantaged families.
“We believe that investing in children’s education is one of the most effective ways of fighting poverty and building stronger communities,” Omoding said.
He emphasized that many vulnerable children continue to face barriers to education because of poverty, lack of school requirements, and difficult family conditions.
According to him, continued support from individuals and organizations can help prevent school dropouts and give children a better future.
The event ended with smiles, excitement, and appreciation from both children and parents, reflecting renewed hope among families that have been struggling to cope with economic challenges.
Community members said the donation serves as a reminder that acts of kindness and collective support can positively transform lives and help vulnerable children remain focused on education despite hardships.
Local leaders now hope that similar initiatives will continue expanding across Soroti City to support more disadvantaged learners and strengthen community welfare.
