Six million children aided as Plan marks 25 years in Uganda

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga (center) cuts a cake during the the25 years of Plan International Uganda celebration in advancing children's rights and equality for girls in Uganda as as the Head of Programmes Plan International Uganda Virginia Saiz (Left), the Country Director Plan International Uganda Rashid Javed (Second Right), the Minister without Portfolio Hajji Abdul Naduli (Right) and the Children from Salama Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) support by Plan look on. PHOTO/Shamim Saad

Plan International Uganda marked 25 years of charity work in Uganda on Wednesday with the number of direct beneficiaries hitting six million, according to the organization's country Director, Rashid Javed.

Plan International is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world, with operations in 51 countries across Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

The organization launched its first programme in Uganda in Luweero district in 1992, and later spread out across the country building schools, health centres and water sources for needy communities.

Rashid Javed, Plan Uganda's country director told guests at a breakfast meeting to commemorate the silver jubilee that the organization would focus on protecting keeping the girl child in school.

"Globally, issues affecting girls are beyond belief in terms of marginalization. We will work to ensure that they are safe, protected, educated and stay in school," he stated.

The organisation's first beneficiaries narrated how the organization had transformed their lives while the first volunteer workers and partners were recognized at the ceremony.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga who was chief guest at the event paid tribute to the charity organization she credited for being an active player in work involving children

"Plan has done a good job in Uganda. Their work is real and the evidence is there," Kadaga said, pointing to the beneficiaries and the schools set up across the country, including in her own district of Kamuli.