In July 2025, the Chairperson of Vunza Village Cooperative, Ms. Janat Nandawula, identified the family’s situation and brought it to the attention of COSMA. Upon visiting the household, COSMA found a family in deep crisis: Harriet was critically ill, household income had collapsed, and Justine’s education was hanging in the balance.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, COSMA immediately mobilized support through its education sponsorship network. Within a short time, Justine secured a sponsor who committed to supporting her educational needs. As a result, Justine returned to school, completed Primary Five, and is now continuing with Primary Six.
For Harriet, the intervention meant restoration of hope after the painful experience of watching one child drop out of school due to poverty. For Justine, this opportunity did not simply keep her in school — it protected her future from becoming another casualty of poverty and vulnerability.
Beyond one family, Justine’s story demonstrates the important role that community structures can play in protecting vulnerable children from dropping out of school. Through cooperative networks and trusted local leadership, vulnerable households can be identified early and connected to support before crises become irreversible.
In this case, the Village Cooperative became more than an agricultural platform — it became a community protection system. By linking vulnerable families to timely support, community-led structures are helping ensure that poverty, illness, and household crisis do not permanently deny children their right to education.
