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Samantha Angel arrived in Homer, Alaska, in August of 2023 from her home in Uganda. She was a "Power of One" exchange student from Africa. What's more, she was on a 100% scholarship, as her family did not have the means to support the exchange program. Her mother was a simple farmer who sold vegetables in the local market. Her father is absent, location unknown. Samantha was an exceptional exchange student, even allowed to perform "Ain't I a Woman" dramatic essay at the District Conference in Fairbanks in May 2024, to a standing ovation. In late June of 2024, she received word that her mother had died suddenly. Of course, she was devastated. We arranged for an expedited trip home with a lot of misgivings. She was met at the airport by Rotarian Paul, a member of the Tororo Rotary club in Uganda. He made sure that she made it to the home of her mother's best friend, whom she calls "Aunt Prossy". Several Rotarians from the Homer-Kachemak Bay Rotary Club set up a fund at the local Wells Fargo bank and made sure that she could continue school in Uganda, which is not free. That account, funded by a few Homer Rotarians, has been paying her educational expenses ever since. She just finished year 4, which is equivalent to her Senior year. To continue her education, she needs funding for 2 more years (year 5 and 6), which is somewhat equivalent to community college in the US.
The Uganda club and contact information are as follows:
Club: Rotary Club of Tororo
Club ID: 26569
District: 9213
Club President: Rtn. Athieno Marcellina (2025/2026)
Project Primary Contact: Rtn. Osinde John Paul
BANK DETAILS
Name: Rotary Club of Tororo
Account Number: 3100043943
Bank: Centenary Bank
Swift code: CERBUGKA
Bank Address: Centenary Bank Headquarters, Mapeera House, Plot 44-46, Kampala Road & Plot 2 Burton Street,
P.O Box 1892, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 317202002,
+256 417202002
Email: info@centenarybank.co.ug
The method of payment would be for the grant check to go to the president of the Homer-Kachemak Bay club, who will use Wells Fargo Bank to wire the funds to the bank account of the Rotary Club of Tororo in Uganda. This is a transaction that we are familiar with.
The school that Samantha is planning to attend is "Trinity Senior Academy Bwebajja". It is located in Entebbe, Uganda. It is a boarding school so the fees cover classes, room, and board. There are additional expenses for uniforms, personal clothing items, other personal items, etc. Before each term Samantha will receive a document outlining the school fees. She will submit this document along with a list of other items needed by her for that term, which will include items such as school supplies, clothing, personal snacks and beverages, transportation costs to and from the school, and other personal expenses. Samantha has a history of making up a list of such items and submitting them to Rotarians at the Homer-Kachmake Bay Rotary Club who has been providing funding for her education the past 2 years.
There are grades given to the student at the end of each term, and there are 3 terms per year. Samantha will send these "report cards" direct to Rotarian Osinde John Paul who is the Ugandan Rotarian in charge of distributing funds and also to Rotarian Kim Zook of the Homer-Kachemak Bay Rotary Club. Success of the student will be measured by passing grades in all classes as stated in the report cards.
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