In late 2020, during a walk in our neighborhood, we met an 8 year old boy. In a friendly chat as we walked together, we learned that he had missed school for the entire year. The public school he attended had not rolled out online classes at the hight of the COVID-19 lockdowns, he had no access to television or radio lessons, and when schools finally reopened, his guardian could not afford the basic requirements for him to return.

We later discovered that these requirements cost less than $50 per school term (three months). We visited his home and found three other children in similar circumstances in the same neighborhood. We decided to commit some money from our personal savings monthly for this purpose each to keep children like him in school.

To ensure accountability, we pay school fees and requirements directly to the schools, keep copies of their report cards, and invite the children to our home from time to time to interact and encourage them. Nearly five years later, this simple model of support is still running and growing as our means allow.