Around the world, 244 million children are out of school. The reasons are rarely dramatic. More often, they're painfully ordinary — and a school uniform is one of the most ordinary of all.
A simple barrier with a heavy cost
In many of the communities we work with, a uniform is required to attend school. For families living in poverty, that single purchase can be out of reach. The result is a child who is enrolled in principle but absent in practice — or one who attends in clothes that mark them out, day after day, as the child whose family couldn't afford the uniform.
That stigma matters. Children who feel they don't belong in the classroom stop going to the classroom. Providing uniforms removes that barrier and ensures no child is excluded from learning because of what they wear.
What it costs
Sponsoring uniforms for an entire school of roughly 1,000 students in Kibera, Kenya costs about £11,500 — close to £12 per child for a year of belonging, dignity and attendance.
Every additional year a child stays in school raises their future earnings by around 13%. Set against that, a uniform may be one of the highest-return investments there is.
What you can do
A single donation can put a uniform on a child's back. A monthly gift keeps children in uniforms as they grow. And if you'd like to outfit an entire school, our project sponsorship programme makes that possible for individuals, families and brands.
Donate now — and help a child walk into the classroom feeling they belong there.
Help us remove the barriers keeping children out of school.
Donate now