Absa Bank Uganda has handed over the shs300 million proceeds from the 2024 Absa 7 Hills Run, an annual charity event organised in partnership with the Kampala Hash House Harriers (KH3) to raise funds to keep the girl child in school.
On Wednesday, the bank handed over proceeds to the beneficiaries who included Joshua Cheptegei Foundation that received shs50 million for bursaries for 22 girls enrolled in the Joshua Cheptegei Junior School.
The school avails full or partial school bursaries to the less privileged and/or needy children with emphasis to those talented in sports.
Other beneficiaries from this year’s run include Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project which has two schools in Kanungu and Rukungiri and received shs20 million, shs50 million to Baylor College to provide school fees for 111 girls under their Determined Resilient Empowered Aids Free Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) programme in Fort Portal City and shs 30 million to Amref Health Africa that will provide 1,875 girls with reusable sanitary pads under their Heroes of Gender programme.
Other beneficiaries this year are Windle International that gets shs60 million , benefiting 266 Girls and shs90 million to World Vision to strengthen menstrual hygiene management in Karamoja, by providing access to clean and safe water benefiting over 5,000 girls.
Speaking during the handover, Absa Bank Uganda Managing Director, Mumba Kalifungwa said they will continue with this noble cause of keeping the girl child in school.
“We believe that education is a right that every child should have access to, regardless of gender. The Absa KH3-7 Hills Run is our way of giving support to the girl child, because their story matters. We have divided these funds among reputable social enterprises through which we are honoured to make a contribution towards tackling a societal challenge; supporting the girl child to pursue an education; providing skills training; and improving menstrual hygiene management,” said Mumba .
He commended the public and partners for supporting the noble cause of keeping the girl child in school.
“Overall, through this support, we intend to contribute towards a reduction in school absenteeism and dropout rates among girls. We are grateful for the overwhelming support of the general public who showed up for the run to support this noble cause.”
