By Anzoo Evaline

The future of underprivileged children in West Nile received a major boost as the Jewel Michaels Foundation for Education was officially launched in Adjumani District. The initiative, spearheaded by Miss Teen Pearl of Africa 2024, Jewel Michaels Anzoa, seeks to transform the lives of disadvantaged children by ensuring they have the opportunity to go to school, stay in school, and successfully complete their education.

The colorful launch was graced by General (Rtd) Caleb Akandwanaho commonly known as Gen. Salim Saleh, who commended Jewel Michael for championing a cause that resonates deeply with Uganda’s vision of empowering the next generation. Gen. Saleh pledged his personal and institutional support through the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) programme, emphasizing that education and agriculture must move hand in hand to secure the region’s future.

“As OWC, we made a proposal to the Ministry of Education. We had offered to use all the schools with land to be able to start the wealth creation around the schools. So, thank you, Jewel, for bringing me to the education sector through my way of agriculture. The other groups can contribute in their own way, but if I can get this partnership between the education system and agriculture, then I’m ready to collaborate with you,” Gen. Saleh promised.

To demonstrate his commitment, Gen. Saleh contributed 35 million Uganda shillings to support the foundation’s programs, a gesture that was met with overwhelming applause from the community and leaders in attendance.

“With these few words, I hereby launch the foundation and we shall contribute 35 million shillings for the foundation,” Gen. Saleh said.

Queen Jewel Michael, in her speech, expressed her gratitude to the people of Adjumani and West Nile, pledging to use the foundation as a platform to break barriers to education, particularly for girls and children from vulnerable families.

“My dream is to see every child in West Nile have equal access to education. This foundation is not about me, it’s about giving hope and creating opportunities for children who would otherwise be left behind, so our guest of Honor, while recognizing the positive progress, the high dropout rate is attributed to social, economic, cultural, and structural problems” she said. “Guest of Honor, we the children of West Nile called upon you and all the prominent persons, the president of the Republic of Uganda, the minister of education and sports, to hold annual education campaign events in West Nile and sub-regional public dialogue on improving education outcomes in West Nile sub region,” Queen Jewel added.

The District Chairperson of Adjumani district, Hon. Anyama Ben, appreciated the general for honoring his invitation and of the family. Anyama further applauded the family of Maj. Gen. (rtd) Ondoga Michael for acknowledging that they are Madi from Adjumani.

“General Saleh, I want to thank you very much on behalf of my people of Adjumani and on my own behalf for accepting my invitation and the family of Queen. I want to thank Major General Ondoga and the family for first of all for accepting to recognize that you are Madi. Because there are many Ma’di people who have achieved bigger things but they have never brought it home here. Meaning they disassociated themselves from us,” said Hon. Anyama.

“General you are liberator, you are revolutionist, and every Uganda is having peace because of you accepting to sacrifice in the bush. Today you are here to address the issue of Adjumani and West Nile, to bring peace and education in our country and in the district. I thank you,” Anyama added.

Kojoa Cynthia Princess, a student of St. Mary’s Assumpta, said that. “Today that we have been inspired by the Queen Jewel Michaels that this foundation can make students in Adjumani district go to school, to stay in school and complete school. As you know that the rate of dropout in Adjumani district is high”.

The foundation will work closely with schools, parents, and local leaders to tackle challenges such as school dropouts, early marriages, and poverty-related barriers that keep children out of classrooms.