On returning from our Edukid trip to Cambodia in October 2024 we were inspired to
raise money to help the families we met during our Homestay. Through fundraising
from family and friends and a whole school non-uniform day -with the ever-popular
chance to ‘pie the teacher’ – we have managed to raise a total of £1550 ($2000).
This money will cover the costs of home repairs and supplies for both families,
enabling them to build a business which will provide an income all year round. We
hope this will allow their children to attend school and enable Huan’s daughter to
achieve her aspiration to become a teacher, giving the gift of education to their whole
community. We feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to visit Cambodia
and to play a small part in helping those families Edukid supports.

Ed Hall Y13, Ashville College

I chose to volunteer with Edukid because of its focus on education and empowerment in communities affected by poverty. Education is a powerful tool for change, and I wanted to be part of an organization that makes a real, tangible difference in the lives of children and families who need it most. The opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful cause inspired me to get involved, and I’m so glad I did.

During my time with Edukid, I raised money to support educational projects that provide children with the opportunity to learn and break the cycle of poverty. I chose to fundraise for Edukid’s school projects, which provide resources like school supplies, access to teachers, and the construction of safe learning environments. Additionally I chose to raise money to support SDG 15. Education is fundamental, and by helping provide these resources, I knew I was directly contributing to creating a brighter future for many children.

How I Raised Money

I decided to challenge myself by taking part in a fundraising run to raise money. I set a target of £100, and with the help of family, friends, and supporters, I found sponsors for my 15km run along a local trail. I set up a JustGiving page to make it easy for people to donate online as well as in cash, and I kept everyone updated on my training progress and the impact their donations would have. The excitement and encouragement I received throughout the process were truly motivating!

Highlights

One of the biggest highlights for me was seeing the support and enthusiasm from my friends and family as I shared my progress. Knowing that my efforts were not only helping me grow personally but were also contributing to a meaningful cause was incredibly fulfilling. Another highlight was learning more about Edukid’s impact and seeing how the money raised translates into real opportunities for children in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Volunteering with Edukid has taught me so much. I’ve learned about the challenges that children in extreme poverty face when it comes to accessing education, and how small contributions can have a significant impact. I’ve also learned valuable skills in fundraising, time management, and perseverance.

Thank you, Edukid, for this incredible opportunity. I’m proud to have been part of this journey and excited to see how future volunteers will continue to make an impact.

Recently I took part in a mini triathlon to raise money for Edukid. I walked 2.3miles, ran 2.3 miles and cycled 2.3 miles. I did this on the Tasmin trail at Richmond Park.

I chose to fundraise for clean water and sanitation because I believe it should accessible for everyone around the world. During this fundraiser, I was able to raise £310 although my target was £120. This was through Justgiving donations made by friends and family.

I am so happy I was able to organise a whole event and do something better in the world. I am grateful for the help and resources given by Edukid to make this fundraiser possible.

Volunteering with Edukid has been a powerful and eye-opening journey. It gave me a deeper understanding of the barriers many children face in accessing education and showed me how meaningful our support can be.

Raising money to help fund their education was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. It gave real purpose to my actions, knowing that the money I raised could change someone’s future.

The volunteering course has with excellent resources and clear guidance that help you understand global issues and take real and I think everybody should start their fundraising journey with Edukid!

A huge well done to the team at Gleeds Oxford who recently took on a sponsored 37km walk along the Ridgeway, from Uffington to Goring.

17 staff members and 3 dogs took part, walking for around 8 hours to raise money and awareness for Edukid’s work. The distance they walked is roughly how far many girls in Uganda travel just to get to school in a week!

The challenge was a great way to bring the team together, and it means a lot that they chose to do it in support of our projects in Uganda and Peru, helping girls overcome barriers to education.

Earlier this year, Edukid was invited to attend Gleeds Oxford’s annual charity gala, where we had the chance to speak about our work and meet some of the team and their guests. It was a fantastic evening and a great opportunity to share how donations like theirs directly support children around the world.

This October half-term, Emily Walton, Bluesoup’s Head of Digital, joined Edukid on an unforgettable trip to Cambodia.

Bluesoup donates 10% of its profits to Edukid, and this journey was not only a way to support the trip but also an opportunity to witness first-hand how those contributions make a real difference.

“During my weeklong trip, I created some truly unforgettable experiences with the team from Edukid and all the young people I met along the way.

We met some of the rural communities supported by Edukid, which highlighted the profound difference educational funding can make.

One evening, I was honoured to meet a few of the university students who are funded by Bluesoup – we dined on frogs, beetles and crickets washed down with a green fanta! Rathana, in particular, blew me away – she works tirelessly in her community as an intern and teaching English, and then goes to university at the weekend, where she studies full-time. Her passion and commitment were so inspiring and it reinforced the value of Edukid’s work.

I am proud to be part of an organisation like Bluesoup who support Edukid in creating opportunities that empower and inspire communities and individuals. It was an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.”

Gerald who lives Northern Uganda had a tough start to life. He grew up living in extreme poverty and although he was old enough to be in school, he had been forced to drop out. His family simply could not afford schools fees or the equipment needed such as scholastic materials and uniforms that would allow him to continue his education.

Later that year, Edukid met Gerald and moved by his story, we stepped in to support him and ensure he could return to school. Gerald has since been supported by Edukid through primary school, and he has excelled his way through secondary school and university.

Gerald has recently graduated from university with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering! Since graduating, Gerald has been working and training in a local garage, where he has been using his skills to gain invaluable hands-on experience. Using his skills, he is also working at a local college teaching students about Mechanical Engineering. He is passionate about sharing his skills and knowledge with the next generation of learners.

His next dream? To pursue further education in a more specialised field of mechanical engineering and eventually start his own business. When speaking to Gerald on a recent visit to Uganda, he said:

“My vision is to provide skills, training and job opportunities to local children who lack opportunities. I believe this will build and empower the community”.

We’re so excited to see Gerald continue to grow and give back to his local community.

Gerald’s story is a clear example of the importance of education, and its power to break the cycle of poverty. It also serves as a reminder to us, that education can cause positive, ripple effects throughout the entire community.

In 2017, driven by a vision of empowering communities through solar light, Natalie and Edukid established Solar 4 Students – an initiative that provided a safe and sustainable source of light for students living in very rural communities in Northern Uganda. Fast forward to 2023, and the impact was profound – 522 solar panels have been distributed so far to children within the Edukid programme. The path towards a brighter and sustainable future has been created.

At the beginning of February 2024, the Solar 4 Students team travelled to Northern Uganda, Gulu, to distribute the final solar panels to children at Wilacic and Koch Goma Primary School. Throughout the week, the S4S team heard about the challenges the students face using paraffin candles, particularly for health and security. Importantly the children expressed their struggles to complete homework without electricity, and in the dark. During this week, the final 62 students in the Edukid programme received the gift of light for the very first time!

After sunset one night during the trip, the team visited a local family to light up their banda for the very first time with their new solar panels. The impacts were beyond imaginable, and the basic activities that were once a challenge such as cooking, reading, and simply spending quality time together, became not only possible but also enjoyable. With solar, children have the opportunity to study during the evenings, improve the quality of their education and therefore improve their educational outcomes.

Prior to this trip, 522 solar panels had been gifted to children enrolled on the Edukid programme. By the end of the week, all 584 children had received the gift of light!

“This is what it is all about! After 10 years, the 584th and final solar light has been switched on! The team visited a local family after sunset during our week in Uganda to light up their banda for the very first time. The impact goes beyond education, health and security. It’s global love and connection! 💡💛🌍

The solar panel programme is not just about providing light—it’s about empowering communities and creating brighter futures for children and their families!

Thank you so much to the Gulu community for inviting us into their hearts and homes and giving us the opportunity to show love through light.”

We recently heard from Charlie, a student currently enrolled on Edukid’s Global Citizenship Programme and volunteering as part of his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. During his time with Edukid, Charlie has been learning about the lack of access to clean, safe drinking water in Gulu, Northern Uganda – one of the many challenges faced by the communities we support.

In response, Charlie has launched his own fundraising campaign. He shared:

“I want to raise money for clean, safe water in Uganda. I will be fundraising via a sponsored row & cycle across the distance of Uganda – from Kampala to Gulu, which is 330km.”

We are so encouraged to see young people like Charlie taking action and advocating for global issues with such thoughtfulness and drive.

Hi, I’m Kirsty, and I went on a trip to Uganda with Edukid.

During my time in Uganda, I found the experience very eye-opening: life there is incredibly different to here in the UK. From what I saw in the week I spent there, one of the main problems is the lack of education – particularly for young girls similar in age to myself. The lack of education for girls leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and many are often married off young to help families financially, and who are very often forced to bear children as single mothers. I quickly learnt that education helps children to get a foothold early on, so they can take control of their own lives and help break the cycle of poverty!

One moment that really stuck with me was watching how people collected their water. Firstly, the water collected by some families was very unclean – it was clearly contaminated and contained various sedimentary pieces. Secondly, there are some sources that are actually quite dangerous to access, and at one particular source we visited you had to kneel on a makeshift bridge made of logs (very unstable) and lean down to collect the water. Also, some families had to walk up to 5km from their homes to the nearest water source!

After my trip, I had a very different perspective on life. I know people always say these sorts of things, but you really have to be there to see and understand it. I am not a particularly emotional person, but going on this trip made me realise how much we have at home, and how a small amount of money can help to support a child’s education. It is almost nothing to us, but everything to them! My experience motivated me, rather than upsetting me, as there is so much that we can do, and every little action makes a huge difference!

As a result of my experience and my motivation to help, I applied for a volunteering role with Edukid. My thoughts behind applying was if I could take the smaller tasks that take time, employees would have more time and money to put towards projects, and ultimately towards children’s education. I am hoping the few hours a week that I put towards Edukid will make a difference to them, and that maybe my story will encourage more people to volunteer. My hope is that Edukid will have the resources to expand and change many more lives than they already have”.