Solomon's Children is a small UK-based charity which supports the education of young people in Uganda. We work with a number of partner organisations in Uganda to select young people on the basis of their past progress at school, their genuine financial need, and the inability of their family or relatives to support them.

Solomon's Children is particularly concerned to support older children who are preparing to take 'O' and 'A' Level examinations. We also sponsor students in Higher Education. Students are referred to us through our partner organizations. Solomon's Children is non-denominational, and we support students - and work with partner organisations - of all religious denominations.

Solomon's Children supports children from every region of Uganda, though most are studying in secondary schools near Kampala or in the South West. School fees vary from £15 to £60 a term, depending on their quality and facilities. The schools are chosen according to the location of the young people's relatives (who can support them during times of illness), and to ensure continuity in the young person's school career. All of the schools provide a positive educational experience.

Solomon's Children was formed in 2002 by a group of academics, media experts and development professionals in the UK and Uganda who were concerned about drop-out rates from secondary education in Uganda. In the mid-1990s the Ugandan government, with support from Britain's Department for International Development (DFiD) introduced a system of Universal Free Primary Education (UPE). As a result, every child of school age in Uganda can now receive at least a rudimentary primary education free of charge. However, no equivalent provision exists for secondary education. Thus many promising children are forced to drop out of education at the beginning of, or part way through, their secondary education. This is especially true of young people whose households have been affected by illness (such as HIV/AIDS) and war. And without 'O' and 'A' Level qualifications, which are essential for gaining formal employment, poverty remains a constant threat. Several of Solomon's Children's trustees had previously supported such students on an individual basis, but creating a charity has enabled us to greatly extend this work, involving many more sponsors and students.

For more on poverty and education in Uganda, read the insightful comments of one of our key partners in Uganda, Community Support for the Education of the Children of Uganda (CSECU) click here.