Celebrating Our Tenth Anniversary!
Message From the Chairman of OKAS Fund – Arun Patel, BCAh
Dear OKSSS Alumnus and Supporter,
This year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Old Kampala Alumni Scholarship Fund (www.okasfund.org)
Like you, I too have vivid memories of our old school that gave me a solid education which set
me up for life.
Over the past 10 years, I have visited the school numerous times.
I have interacted extensively with the headmasters and the staff.
I have also interviewed hundreds of students and met with their parents (mostly single parents).
I have listened to their heart-wrenching stories of poverty and daily struggles.
Of begging and borrowing money so that their children could get an education.
Of their children’s fears of toiling on the streets if unable to get an ‘O’ or ‘A’ level certificate.
It has been 50 years since we left Uganda, but it has not been
easy for many of them.
To date, we have provided 290 scholarships to needy students.
Inside are the stories of a few of them. See how your generosity has transformed our boys in gray and girls in blue to mature, self-sufficient, and responsible citizens of our beloved Uganda.
Unfortunately, the numbers of our alumni are shrinking fast.
And so, time is of the essence.
Please pass this newsletter on to your friends and family.
Thank you very much for all your support.
Kind Regards,
Arun Patel, BCAh
Scholarships Sponsored Over the Ten Years
As our chairperson indicated, OKAS Fund provides scholarships to bright and promising students who cannot afford to pay their school fees. Without us they would not be able to study further.
We are proud to report that, over the ten years, we have provided 290 scholarships!
The chart below shows our sponsorship by year:
A Bright Future Awaits Our Past Scholars!
Many of our past scholars have achieved success in various walks of life. They have started contributing to the country’s economy as well as building a successful career for themselves and their families.
(Please note, we provided funding only during their formative years at OKSSS. For higher studies, they have paved their own way or received assistance from other sources.)
Below we are highlighting some of the success stories of our past scholars.
Other Contributions to Our Beloved School
Our work doesn’t end with scholarships. Over the years we have contributed to other large projects in meaningful ways:
In 2017, we provided Mathematics and Biology textbooks for Senior 1 to Senior 6 classes.
In 2018, we revamped the school library and provided over 14,000 quality text and reference books.
In 2020 and 2021, the COVID years, the school was closed. About 75 staff members (janitors, groundskeepers, etc.) were laid off. These individuals had no means to buy the bear necessities. Individual supporters provided food and other essential items like soap and oil to these folks.
And Our Best Wishes to all the currently OKASFUND sponsored students pictured below :
Appeal to Our Donors
We desperately need more funds to ensure that many of our capable students at OKSSS continue with their studies beyond 2023.
FUNDS AVAILABILITY
The current funding of 50 students for 2024 will require £25,000.
At the current level of sponsorships, we only have sufficient funds to sponsor for the next 15 months.
To sponsor one student costs around £600 ($720 p.a)
Please note, OKAS Fund has zero administration costs so every penny you donate goes directly to help these students.
We humbly appeal to you for your much-needed financial support. If you wish to donate to OKAS Fund, please click on the Donate button below
Canadian donors, please visit: https://health-education.ca/ to get an official charitable donation receipt. After clicking on the ‘Donate’ button, in the ‘Project’ drop-down menu, select ‘OKAS Fund’
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela
Our Author Dinesh Dattani
Our Editor – Dinesh D. Dattani studied at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School from 1966 to 1969. He has many fond memories of the School, and considers this period of his life as tranquil, carefree and cheerful. Some of the friendships he cultivated during these formative years still endure.
What an uplifting report! Just shows how a little support can help these children, who were born in the ‘other’ cradle (and have fewer resources than us), prosper too. Your dedication and commitment to their education has made this possible. Kudos! OKSSS was my alma mater and the source of some my most beautiful and endearing memories.
Please share your thoughts on Booksbroad’s involvement so we can celebrate our collaboration with OKAS. I’m eager to publish on LinkedIn, Facebook, Uganda Asians and other platforms; I need an inspiring hook to connect our message and spread the word.
Vinay.
It really means a lot contributing to someone’s success. I’m glad I was once a beneficiary and this transformed my life. Appreciations ❤
Okasfund should be very proud of you
What started and remained as something less than a part time “hobby” changed the lives of so many ….immensely gratifying indeed !!!
Many thanks to all those who joined us in this noble cause to support our beloved Old Kampala Secondary School.
We are so grateful. Thank you for sharing your resources with the needy students.
Well done .must be gratifying to see the result of both financial and physicalinput. God bless jsk.
One soul at the time touching many people in the end. Well done. Your efforts will always be remembered 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Dear friend Arun
As a past student, I want to convey a heartful gratitude and amazement for all your efforts. My father and uncle were both teachers at OKSSS.
Your hard work, dedication, and sincerity have made a massive impression on some of the school’s students. You are a critical driver behind this success. Keep up the good work.
Secondly, I also want to thank my best friend Dinesh Dattani for his input in this project.
Niranjan Joshi
OKASfund has brought to reality the dreams of many bright but unprivileged students in terms of attaining a decent education. There is no better way to thank our donors than praying that God rewards you with life to see the fruits of the sponsored students not only in Uganda but all over the world. You have surely spread love and care
It is heartwarming ❤️ to read an update on the kind of humaness us,
OKSSS friends group, have been part of for some years now.
This noble work will carry on and it’s great some of us are regular monthly sponsors amongst some Great annual donors well appreciated.
Thanks to all. Guys keep going 👍👏🙏
Well done .must be gratifying to see the result of both financial and physicalinput. God bless jsk
Great strides. Thanks for the support 🙏 Arun and friends and family. Each penny counts. Each scholarship carries. Memories of gratitude and dedication to education.
Being a trustee of OKAS Fund has been a worthwhile and enriching experience. Old school friends, all working together for a common goal – to help needy students at their former high school, OKSSS.
I still have fond memories of those high school days – no material wealth, but a lot of happiness and inner peace and satisfaction …
Education is not preparation to life. Education is life itself.
Thank you so much OKAS fund for giving these children a chance at life.
I celebrate with you, a decade of this most noble gift-Education.
Mr. Arun,
We cannot express enough gratitude for your vision and generosity! This support for the less fortunate has been an incredible benefit to the school and the benefiting learners. My appreciation is immeasurable for your trust in us and contribution to our school vision and mission.
Congratulations on this aluminium anniversary of the OKAS fund!
It’s an honour to celebrate this milestone with OKASFUND, which has impacted my life and the lives of countless others. As a former beneficiary, I know firsthand the value of this scholarship—thanks to the generosity of alumni and donors, I could pursue my education and aspire to give back to my community.
OKASFUND is more than just financial aid; it represents hope, encouragement, and belief in young people’s futures. My heartfelt thanks to Mr. Patel and everyone involved for making these dreams possible.
Thanks to all our donors and supporters. Thanks also to all my fellow trustees for their support and the wonderful reports produced by Mr Dinesh Dattani.
I have the privilege of dealing with the school on a regular basis as the treasurer and get to know the successes of many students which in itself is very uplifting. It is great to see comments by ex-scholar Steven Lubega (now reading Medicine at KIU), Catherine M and current headmaster Mr. Arthur Mbalule. OKAS fund is ticking more than one United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG).