Olango (centre) hands over catering tools to children of Taso clients in Gulu

By Chris Ocowun

THE AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) has received sh200m from Civil Society Fund for the education of orphans of it’s former clients in Gulu district. About 1,073 orphans will receive vocational, secondary and primary education.

According to the regional TASO project officer, James Oliama, the organisation has provided fees and scholastic materials to the orphans.

Oliama made the disclosure while handing over the tools to 30 orphans who completed a six-month course.

They were trained in catering and hotel management, tailoring, brick-laying and concrete practice, motor vehicle mechanics, welding and metal fabrication and carpentry at the TASO offices in Gulu last week.

“We expect these children to start income-generating activities to support their families and use their businesses to send HIV/AIDS preventive messages to the public,” Oliama said.

He added that with support from UNICEF, TASO had sponsored 143 orphans for vocational training and 750 for primary and secondary education.

The vice-chairman of the TASO board of trustees, the Rev. Willy Olango, warned the orphans against laziness and abandoning the tools they had received.

He said last year, the children were given sh200,000 to start income-generating activities to improve on their standard of living.

“Many people despise vocational training and prefer formal education not knowing that a senior six certificate is nothing compared to vocational training,” Olango said.

He appealed to TASO to follow up on the orphans who received the tools and funds for at least six months.

Olango observed that as the resettlement exercise progressed, the rate of stigmatisation among the formerly displaced persons was increasing.