Two Bright but Underperforming Students Came Into Their Own During Covid

Tamra and Innocent were close to completing high school when COVID swept through Uganda, shutting down schools for two years. They were both good students, but their grades hadn't always reflected their potential. Life had been difficult; studying at home wasn’t often easy to do, and the schools that they attended were often overcrowded and understaffed. COVID changed all of that and brought out the best in their academics. How, you ask? With schools closed, Hope Alive! hired out-of-work teachers to lead small community-based learning groups. Tamra and Innocent (alongside many others!) thrived with individualized attention.

When school finally resumed, they both completed their national exams and went on to their next level of education: Tamra is studying to be an accountant and Innocent is studying catering and hotel management. Their performances in school set them apart from their peers and soon earned them partial government scholarships—a twin “first” for students from the Koro Site. Today they are still studying, still excelling, and still making us exceptionally proud. 

Government scholarships are extremely competitive and, as in the case of Tamra and Innocent, don’t always fully cover the costs. You can help exceptional students like them by contributing to the University Scholarship Fund today.