Giving the gift of hope through education

UCEP (Uwakaneme Community Education Project) is a not-for-profit charity registered in England and Wales, dedicated to transforming the lives of out-of-school children in village communities across West Africa. Its mission is to fund school fees, provide mentoring, and deliver safeguarding support to disadvantaged children, enabling them to complete their education, build strong character, and break the cycle of poverty. UCEP operates alongside its sister charity in Nigeria (UCEF) and is supported by over 40 volunteers across the UK and Nigeria.

The first part of UCEP’s work is to pay school fees and provide learning materials to support out-of-school children in returning to school. However, this alone is not sufficient, as many of these children return after school to environments where they remain vulnerable to exploitation and other risks. The second part of our work is central to our mission. Through a village-based, community-focused approach, we provide ongoing mentoring that promotes life skills, positive self-development, responsible citizenship, and safeguarding. We also work closely with parents, teachers, and community elders to support the holistic development of each child.

The UNICEF November 2024 report, in collaboration with the Nigerian government, revealed that:

• 3 million children of school age are not enrolled in schools in Nigeria
• Of that number, 2 million are primary school-age children.
• Only 38% of children aged 3 to 4 years benefit from early childhood pre-school education.
• Furthermore, 68% of children in rural areas are multidimensionally poor
• Only 39% of the poorest girls attend primary school

We measure outcomes using key indicators such as school attendance, academic performance, and structured feedback from children, teachers, parents, field coordinators, and village leaders, particularly on behavioural development. Our intervention in one village cluster achieved over 95% average school attendance per term during the periods reviewed. The students also recorded academic performance averages above 70%, with many consistently ranking between 3rd and 7th positions in their classes. Additional performance data showed significant improvements in student discipline, commitment to school routines, interpersonal skills, confidence, resilience, and overall well-being of the children.