Maxwel is 9 years old and lives in the Nebbi District of Uganda. An only child, he lives with his parents in a mud and grass house in Nyapea village. The accommodation is primitive and the family have to walk nearly half a kilometre to collect water from the nearest stream or water pump. Like most of the villagers, Maxwel’s family own a small plot of land on which they grow crops to feed themselves, with any surplus being sold to provide a meagre income.Maxwel attends a local school, but the school is ill-equipped and the teachers mainly unqualified, as there is a shortage of trained teachers who are prepared to teach in rural areas such as Nebbi District. The area in which Maxwel lives has a low literacy rate of 67% of men and 29% for women. Many of the children from the poorest families do not attend school at all, as they are needed to work in the fields. Girls are particularly disadvantaged, as education for women is not considered a priority in Uganda.The community faces a constant threat of disease, with an ever increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS and malaria.
ActionAid are working with the local community to improve health awareness and disease prevention and to provide an opportunity for basic education to be available to all the children in this impoverished area.
Uganda is rich in natural resources and has an equable climate, yet its turbulent political history has made it one of the poorest countries in the world. Almost half of Uganda’s population live below the poverty line. Life expectancy is only 43 years and infant mortality is 8.5%. Additionally, with safe drinking water available to only 50% of the population, the risk of disease is ever-present. ActionAid is working tirelessly to address these issues and help the people of Uganda to improve their social and economic positions. |
