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Legacy Scholarship: Tony’s Cows Tony, one of Invisible Children’s (IC) Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) students, was recently given capital to start up a cattle-farming enterprise in order to gain financial independence. “I chose rearing of cows for my project because they are easy to maintain, I am assured of milk for my family, and with breeding the cows can multiply,” Tony said confidently. Under the supervision of his paternal uncle, IC gave Tony 2 million shillings (a little over $800) to purchase three heifers and cover other project costs like building a corral and taking care of any medical expenses for the animals. While Tony is working at an internship with the IC film team in Gulu, the cattle project has been managed by Tony’s uncle with assistance from his cousins. The whole family shares in the work, as they will all be able to share in the benefits once the little herd begins to grow. In business, ups and downs are inevitable. Tony’s project has already seen a number of these, from the exciting news that two of the heifers were pregnant to the devastating news of the death of one of the pregnant animals. Focused on what lies ahead of him, Tony wants to ensure a long life for the remaining two heifers by regularly checking on the animals and ensuring that his uncle has medication for the heifers in case any illnesses arise. Anita, an LSP mentor, is working with Tony to see to it that these needs are met and to ensure that the project is a success. -Germina Tony’s family will pitch in to help out with the new cattle-raising project.

Legacy Scholarship: Tony’s Cows

Tony, one of Invisible Children’s (IC) Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) students, was recently given capital to start up a cattle-farming enterprise in order to gain financial independence.

“I chose rearing of cows for my project because they are easy to maintain, I am assured of milk for my family, and with breeding the cows can multiply,” Tony said confidently.

Under the supervision of his paternal uncle, IC gave Tony 2 million shillings (a little over $800) to purchase three heifers and cover other project costs like building a corral and taking care of any medical expenses for the animals.

While Tony is working at an internship with the IC film team in Gulu, the cattle project has been managed by Tony’s uncle with assistance from his cousins. The whole family shares in the work, as they will all be able to share in the benefits once the little herd begins to grow.

In business, ups and downs are inevitable. Tony’s project has already seen a number of these, from the exciting news that two of the heifers were pregnant to the devastating news of the death of one of the pregnant animals.

Focused on what lies ahead of him, Tony wants to ensure a long life for the remaining two heifers by regularly checking on the animals and ensuring that his uncle has medication for the heifers in case any illnesses arise. Anita, an LSP mentor, is working with Tony to see to it that these needs are met and to ensure that the project is a success.

-Germina

Tonys family will pitch in to help out with the new cattle-raising project.

Tony’s family will pitch in to help out with the new cattle-raising project.



Being a mentor

Invisible Children’s Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) mentors reach out to students in a variety of ways, like monitoring the academic performance of students, helping them improve grades, and giving them the tools to live responsibly.

It’s a big job, being there to help students through the challenges they face academically and socially, so mentors have refresher trainings once every three months so they will be ready to deal with the issues their students are facing.

During the most recent training, the mentors were able to discuss counseling and guidance, psychosocial support and gender-based violence – topics that they need to understand in order to provide their mentees with the best possible support.

Kristie, the psychosocial officer for Invisible Children, explained that though counseling and guidance and psychosocial support might seemingly appear to be the same, they cover different areas of a student’s life. “Counseling and guidance aim at one’s career goals whereas psychosocial support is much broader, it involves one’s physical, spiritual and emotional growth,” she explained.

Mentoring requires being able to engage students and encourage growth in all aspects of life, to do everything possible to equip students to be the future leaders of Uganda. Students are admitted into the LSP program based on aptitude for academics as well as level of vulnerability. Overcoming those vulnerabilities with the help of a mentor places students on the path to success.
3 notes   -  16 July 2012

Volleyball extravaganza

Last week, the Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) held its third inter-regional volleyball tournament under the theme “sport as a tool for mentoring.”

It was a one-of-a-kind tournament that saw students from LSP’s Pader and Gulu program areas converging onto one pitch. The students displayed skill, talent, determination and perseverance as they battled it out to win the trophies.

Gulu Central High School and Sacred Heart School scored the most points, taking the boy’s and girl’s trophies respectively. For the Sacred Heart team, this was a special win: it was their third time winning the tournament, meaning they took the trophy for keeps.

“I started playing volleyball when I was in senior four, it’s then I released I wanted to take it on in the future,” said Geoffrey, an LSP beneficiary who was awarded best player in the boys category. “Volleyball has never interfered with my academics, in fact it helps me be fresh before reading my books.”

Sports may be viewed by some as a waste of time, but is indeed part and parcel of an individual’s growth – physically, mentally or socially. The LSP mentors believe that sports teach discipline and build a strong connection between students as they learn sportsmanship and cheer on their teams.

The LSP is encouraging extra curricular activities like sports to be given time in schools, producing well-rounded and healthy scholars.

-Germina
4 notes   -  20 June 2012

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“I like debating because it needs critical analysis which can help unearth solutions to issues in the society,” comments Ben, a debater from Gulu Army School. Click here for the story on the debate organized by The Legacy Scholarship Program. Komakech Oginga, the head judge, mentions that debate allows students to “gain knowledge for unique disciplines that are not incorporated in their normal academics.” I think this is “something we can all agree on”. -Caroline

“I like debating because it needs critical analysis which can help unearth solutions to issues in the society,” comments Ben, a debater from Gulu Army School.

Click here for the story on the debate organized by The Legacy Scholarship Program.

Komakech Oginga, the head judge, mentions that debate allows students to “gain knowledge for unique disciplines that are not incorporated in their normal academics.”

I think this is “something we can all agree on”.

-Caroline


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Recently, one of the students from Invisible Children’s Legacy Scholarship Program earned the top score at her school in national exams. Her journey to success has not been easy, but she has shown a commitment to her education despite all odds. She recently wrote to share her story with us. Read her story here.

Recently, one of the students from Invisible Children’s Legacy Scholarship Program earned the top score at her school in national exams. Her journey to success has not been easy, but she has shown a commitment to her education despite all odds. She recently wrote to share her story with us.

Read her story here.



Meet Anena Grace - she was abducted by the LRA at age 13. She is a mother of two, a seamstress at Mend & the life of the party. Purchase a Mend bag made by Grace for your Mom for this Mother’s Day. 100% of the proceeds go to the Legacy Scholarship Program. Because Mother’s are the best teachers of them all.  

13 notes   -  4 May 2012

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Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so in honor of mothers everywhere and the education they work so hard to provide their children, we have decided that 100% of proceeds from select Mend products between now and May 13 will go toward our Legacy Scholarship Program. An investment in education is a way that we can honor mothers all over the world because mothers are our first and greatest teachers. We sat down for a chat with Legacy Scholarship student Collines Angwech to discuss her favorite topic: her mother! Read it here on our blog.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so in honor of mothers everywhere and the education they work so hard to provide their children, we have decided that 100% of proceeds from select Mend products between now and May 13 will go toward our Legacy Scholarship Program. An investment in education is a way that we can honor mothers all over the world because mothers are our first and greatest teachers. We sat down for a chat with Legacy Scholarship student Collines Angwech to discuss her favorite topic: her mother! Read it here on our blog.


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After review of applications, in-depth interviews with students and countless home visits, the Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) team at last announced the newest scholarship recipients. Read the full update here.

After review of applications, in-depth interviews with students and countless home visits, the Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) team at last announced the newest scholarship recipients.

Read the full update here.


LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP: HEALTHY DEBATE

Far back before war interrupted the state of normalcy in the Acholi sub-region, every Friday afternoon of the school year was set aside for organized debate. Topics like “mother is better than father,” were vehemently argued as students learned the skill of critical thinking. Sadly, this culture has rapidly dwindled in post-conflict Northern Uganda.

Most schools lack an active debating club, so to rekindle the love of healthy debate, Invisible Children’s (IC) Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) staff organized a debate competition for 20 secondary schools in the region.

Read the full blog post here.
21 notes   -  20 March 2012

Legacy Scholarship Program: School Spirit

The Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) recently held a seminar for the student leaders at each of Invisible Children’s 11 partner schools. The seminar aimed to empower these leaders to manage discipline in their schools by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to be peer mediators, role models, and to bridge the gap between the student body and administration.

Richard is in his last year at Gulu High and acts the Chairman for the Ugandan National Student Association.  At the seminar he shared that to prevent misbehavior in students, you must first understand its causes. He hopes that attending this seminar will bolster his conflict resolution skills and help him to promote a greater spirit of unity at his school.  Taking this new knowledge back to Gulu High, Richard has plans to enhance its existing Student Disciplinary Committee.

“I would even like to have people from outside the school come and share information to help [close] the fracture [between students and administration],” said Richard.

This seminar, the first focused on discipline management hosted by the Legacy Scholarship Program, will not be the last!  The LSP provides a gateway to scholastic success to students from northern Uganda though a full-paid, merit-based scholarship, extracurricular activities, and mentoring. Acceptance into the program is based on a combination of academic performance and level of vulnerability.

Check in for more LSP updates soon!

-Juliana
2 notes   -  28 November 2011