Children's welfare
Keep children in school
Fees, uniforms and supplies for children about to drop out.
Illustrative photo: TopSphere Media / Unsplash
Objective for the 2026 funding round
Stop 400 children at risk of dropping out from leaving school this year, and raise their attendance above 90%.
Who it reaches: Children flagged by teachers as missing class because of fees, hunger, work at home or lack of uniform.
Target$45,203
This funding window has closed. New gifts go to the next round.
From $50: exercise books, pens and school bags for two pupils.
The need
Primary school is often free in name, but exam fees, uniforms and books are not. Girls are usually the first to be kept home when money is short, and once out, few return.
Why give to this cause
- The cost that keeps a child out of school is often small: an exam fee, a uniform or a pair of shoes.
- Once a child leaves school, very few return. Acting before they drop out matters most.
- Every payment goes straight to the school or supplier, so the money cannot be diverted.
What your gift does
- $50exercise books, pens and school bags for two pupils
- $120uniforms and shoes for two pupils
- $180a year of fees and exam costs for one pupil
Where your donation goes
The planned budget for this cause. Every quarter, the field report shows what was actually spent against each line.
- Fees and exam costsPaid directly to the school, never in cash to families.40%$48 of $120
- Uniforms, shoes and suppliesA child without a uniform is often sent home.25%$30 of $120
- Attendance mentorsCommunity mentors who visit families when a child misses three days.17%$20 of $120
- Sanitary kits for girlsSo girls don't miss a week of school every month.10%$12 of $120
- Monitoring and reportingAttendance registers checked each term by our field staff.8%$10 of $120
How we do it
- 1
Head teachers flag pupils at risk of dropping out for money reasons.
- 2
We pay costs directly to the school or supplier, never cash to intermediaries.
- 3
Attendance and results are tracked each term.
- 4
Families are linked to income programmes so support can taper off.
The impact your gift will have
- Children who were about to drop out complete the school year and sit their exams.
- Girls in particular stay in school longer, which delays early marriage and widens their choices as adults.
- Families are linked to income programmes, so they can pay the costs themselves in later years.
What we measure and report
Targets for the 2026 funding round. Results against each one are published in the quarterly field report sent to every donor to this cause.
| Measure | Target |
|---|---|
| Pupils kept in school | 400 |
| Share who are girls | 60% |
| Term-to-term retention | 95% |
| Pupils completing the school year | 92% |
Join in the cause today
Make an impactful change in Africa.
Donate to keep children in schoolFund keep children in school
Your gift goes to this programme. You'll get an email receipt now and the field report every quarter.
This funding window has closed. New gifts go to the next round.
Choose an amount
- $50exercise books, pens and school bags for two pupils
- $120uniforms and shoes for two pupils
- $180a year of fees and exam costs for one pupil
Gifts start at $50. Choose your own amount on the next page.
More children's welfare causes
Children's welfareOrphan care
Keep orphaned children with family, fed, in school and looked after.
$70 two months of food for one child living with a relative.
Target$60,246
Donate
Children's welfareSchool meals
A hot lunch that brings children to class and helps them learn.
$75 a term of school lunches for one child.
Target$73,551
Donate
Children's welfareChild sponsorship
Monthly support for one child's schooling, health and meals, with updates.
$78 two months of sponsorship.
Target$133,616
DonateQuestions donors ask
How can I sponsor a child in Africa from the United States?
Choose Child sponsorship and give online in US dollars. Your support covers one child's schooling, health checks and meals, and you receive regular updates on their progress. Choose a cause, enter your amount in US dollars and pay securely by Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT and 100+ coins). You get an email receipt straight away and a field report every quarter.
What is the best way to help orphans in Africa?
Supporting orphaned children within their own families, rather than in orphanages, is what child-welfare experts recommend. Our orphan care programme gives guardians food and school support and sends caseworkers to visit every household monthly.
How much does it cost to feed a child at school in Africa?
School meals cost very little per child. The School meals cause shows exactly what each gift buys, such as a term of hot lunches for a pupil, and we report the number of meals served.