How Long Does My Sponsorship Last?

Sometimes sponsors wonder, “How long will/should my sponsorship of a child last? When will my student “graduate” from Hope Alive!?” The answer is…it depends.

Hope Alive!’s educational goal is for students to complete a basic education and either advance to university or gain the ability to support themselves and become contributing members of their communities. The length of time required varies from student to student.

In Uganda, students are not placed in grade levels according to age, nor are they automatically advanced to the next grade each year. Students must pass rigorous exams in order to be promoted to the next grade level. When they are enrolled in Hope Alive!, students are often behind in school and older than their classmates; they may have missed years of schooling due to their family’s inability to pay the school fees, or other challenges at home. Hope Alive! mentors and tutors work individually with each student to help them make up for deficiencies in their education and reach their potential.

Ugandan students complete seven years of primary school followed by four years of “lower” secondary school. At that point, they take exams and are either sent on to two years of “upper secondary” school (for those considered likely to succeed in university) or to a two-to-three-year program of technical or vocational training leading to a certificate and/or a diploma. Mentors and site leaders, who have known these students for years, work with each one to help them make wise and realistic decisions about their educational plans and potential career opportunities. Students are encouraged and supported to follow the best educational pathway for them, and sometimes that takes much longer than we are used to in the US.

Our sponsorship program does not extend to the university level of education. The relatively small number of Hope Alive! students who go on to university have either earned a government scholarship, have been awarded a Hope Alive! scholarship (thanks to our wonderful partners) or have been blessed in some other way. 

Our hope is that sponsors will remain with their students until they “graduate” from Hope Alive!’s program. We understand that sometimes sponsors have a change in financial circumstances and are not able to continue; if that happens, email us and we will endeavor to find a new sponsor for your student. If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s academic progress, email us [email protected] and we will respond.