United Aid for Africa is back with its School Supply Program. This time with a larger goal for 2013. The UAA team is gearing up to provide school supplies to 500 African children in Ivory Coast. The School Supply program is part of UAA’s ambitious 2013 humanitarian agenda that will make enormous differences in the lives of destitute, poor, and illiterate children. This year you can join the fight, give your support, and follow along with the progress that will provide life-changing aid to the vulnerable children and women of Africa. Read on for a brief look at some distressing statistics…

 

Did you know...?

 

In Coite d’Ivoire, there is a 40% chance that a newborn child will not reach the age of 40, and the life expectancy at birth is 46 years. If this was your infant, how would you be feeling? We live in modern times with modern medicine, and yet these Ivorian children are born into a severe disadvantage.

To make matters worse, it is estmated that by the time these children become adults, more than half of them will be illiterate. To underscore the impact of this, imagine the pressure to go to school, to achieve fundamental reading and writing skills -- when stacked against these odds.  It’s no easy task for these brave children. And unfortunately, many Ivorian children do not possess - and cannot obtain - basic supplies to even enter the classroom.

 

But what can we do...?

 

This is where UAA is taking action. Because of generous endowments both big and small, from caring people like you, last year UAA was able to provide school kits for many children. This year the goal is 500. That’s right, 500 kits for children that include backpacks, uniforms, shoes, pens, papers and books. These children are all eager to learn, and all could go on to do remarkable things for their country and for the world, but they need their school supplies first. Yes, you can help. It’s incredibly easy, and will lift these children up and grant them a lifetime of opportunity.