Wind of Change is also providing support to NCH’s scholarship program as an extension of the Onni Children’s House project. The scholarship program provides financial assistance to allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to continue their education in circumstances where otherwise their families could not afford to send them to school, and they may be vulnerable to becoming engaged in child labour, begging or human trafficking. The children involved in this program do have adult family members who care for them, but simply cannot afford to support them. It is our strong belief that where possible, it is better for children to stay in their villages with their families, and only in really bad circumstances where there are no alternative options should they need to come to a home like Onni to get the love and safety they need. By supporting the scholarship program, we aim to both give children access to an education which they would otherwise be denied, and also make it possible for families to stay together.

The scholarship program provides financial assistance to allow 120 children from disadvantaged backgrounds to receive an education in circumstances where otherwise their families could not afford to send them to school. In 2009, Wind of Change formalised it’s ongoing support for one third of the costs of this entire program, meaning that we have given 40 children access to an education which they would otherwise be denied, and made it possible for poor families to stay together. With your help, we plan to increase our commitment by funding half the program costs in 2010, meaning we will be providing support for 60 children.

All of the children involved in this program are provided with new uniforms, shoes, books, and stationery in preparation for the new school year (see picture, right), and will be helped throughout the year with tuition fees, medical costs, and emergency expenses. We see education as one of the main priorities of the work that we do, and through supporting this program we are able to expand our reach to help more children in the community that we work in, and give them the opportunity of a better future for themselves and their families.