March 2025:
Colline and MaryAnna Ajidra took their first trip to Uganda together where they had their traditional wedding in rural Ogoko. (This was MaryAnna’s first trip outside of the United States so she was excited but nervous for all that she would get to experience.) While in the village for their wedding, Colline showed MaryAnna around the village his family comes from including the school he attended when he lived in the village.
This particular school is funded by the Church and parents of the village so as you can imagine there is a significant lack of funding. What the team saw was a school that was falling apart and students missing from class. Since this is not a government funded school, the parents and village have to pay for everything: school fees, maintenance fees, improvement fees etc. Many of the villagers don’t know where their next meal is coming from much less where they will find/earn the money to send their children to school.
March 2025:
While in the village, the Ajidras were able to donate school supplies (books, paper, pencils) to the students that were in attendance.
They found out that the week before they arrived, around half the school was sent home due to not having school fees paid. This was the point that made them both realize they had to do something to help. Education was the way that Colline was able to beat all odds and come to America for higher education and a chance at a better life.
Through the power of social media and generosity of total strangers, they were able to raise around $6,000 to pay for school fees for the entire school for 6 months! This has allowed around 200 students to attend school in the fall of 2025 for FREE!
August/September 2025:
Colline returns to Ogoko, Uganda to deliver the funds and help set up checks and balances for the school, parents, teachers, and community members.
During this trip, Colline informed the community that every child would be able to attend school for 6 months. He emphasized that this is a one time gift to help give the students and parents time to save for the next 6 months of school. The BTWN Foundation aims to help give relief without creating a sense of dependency on outside resources.
August/September 2025:
During this trip, Colline helped facilitate the renovation process of the classrooms. The floors were able to be completed and doors repaired.
The BTWN Foundation’s next course of action is to put windows in the window frames, fix the toilets, add a fence around the school property, build an office space and add additional school classrooms.