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Julie Solberg’s dream about helping children in Africa became the reality and today is the NGO Child Africa. Julie grew up in Norway, where she met her husband Rino Solberg. After sponsoring about 10 children in Uganda for some time Julie and Rino Solberg decided to include their family and friends, in order to make a greater impact and help more children.
In 1991, the couple started “Solberg Children Help Organization”, a private entity. All donations given by sponsors went directly to the children to pay for school fees and books. There was no money for administration, so the Solberg’s worked together with Julie’s family and friends in Uganda; everybody’s time was given on voluntarily.
All work was dependant on the people’s good hearts and will to help. The couple paid
avel. In 1997 the name changed to Child Africa and the organization was registered as a NGO in Norway.
In 2012 a small boarding section for final year primary students and a vocational department to teach the trades of a carpenter and dressmaker was opened at the Equator school
There still remain a large number of disadvantaged children needing an education, food and help in both Kabale and Mpigig regions. Our aim in the next 3 - 6 years is to build a new school for 2000 children in Kabale and a second school for 2000 children at the Equator in Uganda. These will be built in phases according to funds available.
By the end of 2011; 180,000 bricks had been fired in Kabale. Brick production will continue until 1.9 million bricks have been utilized in building Child Africa schools.
In January 2009, a second primary school was purpose-built on the Equator in Uganda,. and opened Within a year the school had over 180 children and the numbers of pupils increase each term
In 2008 Child Africa was registered as an NGO in Kenya. By 2011, Kiambere and Mboti schools in Kenya had been renovated and Child Africa continues to give aid meaning the children in these schools continue to receive an education.
In 2004, Child Africa opened a website and sponsors showed interest from all over the world. In 2007 an agreement with a marketing company in Norway was made in an effort to help get funding to build schools for disadvantaged children in Uganda. The first primary school known Child Africa International School as was built and ready to admit 72 children in September 2007. Today, the school is known as Child Africa Junior School has more than 300 children and approximately 150 pupils are accommodated in the boarding school. Eleven deaf children are fully integrated in the school and they have made great progress physically, psychologically, socially and culturally. These positive results led to the decision that up to 20% of Child Africa school places will be offered to children with hearing impediments. The aid totally inclusion in everyday school life; the other 80% of pupils and teachers at Child Africa Schools learn sign language.
In 2002, Child Africa’s first university student graduated from Makerere University in Kampala. Aisha Kugunda was sponsored through Child Africa for almost 10 years before she graduated. In 2011, three more Child Africa children graduated from Universities in Uganda. The Child Africa sponsorship program helps children from kindergarten until a qualification is obtained, be it at university or vocational college. Thus, giving a child a future and the ability to help their family and fellow countrymen.
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