Apprenez en plus sur les principaux membres dedies d'OmWana. The team Harmonie K. Founder and President Harmonie is the founder of the association. She manages communication and fundraising from Europe. Harmonie is a primatologist and has been studying chimpanzees in Africa since 2017. Her first mission in Uganda, in Kaseeta, dates back to 2019. She is going to Africa on a regular basis and several trips to Uganda are planned on an annual basis. This way she could maintain a link with the pupils and deal the school supplies offered by donators. Solomon O. Vice president Solomon lives in Kaseeta. He is the Conservation Officer for the Bugoma Forest Chimpanzee Research and Conservation Project. We have known Solomon for 5 years and he has our complete confidence. He is the keystone of the association because he, and he alone, manages all the logistics on site. He is the one who meets the candidates and their families, and goes around the schools. He is a benevolent man, full of good will and humor. He is very committed to education and improving the living conditions of the villagers of Kaseeta. He is also the young father of a little girl whom he hopes to see go to school and study. Walter A. Administrator Officer Walter is the research coordinator for the chimpanzee research and protection project in the Bugoma Forest (Bugoma Primate and Conservation Project). Before 2024, Walter held the position of conservation manager for eight years at the Budongo Conservation Field Station research and conservation project in another province of Uganda. He worked closely with communities and within various schools, giving him extensive and valuable knowledge of the Ugandan school system. He regularly assists us in decision-making and the administrative management of the association Pauline B. General Secretary Pauline joined us in August 2026. She is working in the Congo Basin for a renowned international NGO dedicated to great ape conservation, where she is involved in everything from human-wildlife conflict management to community development projects. She had long wanted to become more directly involved in a humanitarian initiative, and as a loyal supporter of the association since its inception, choosing OmWana was a natural step. With her strong project management background, she joins us as General Secretary. We can already see how her expertise will help us strengthen and expand our work.

Omwana est une association à but non lucratif qui soutient des écoliers ougandais en situation de précarité en prenant en charge leurs frais de scolarité. Omwana is a non-profit organization that supports Ugandan schoolchildren in need by covering their school fees. Its mission is to give them a better future through access to education. A door to the future! OmWana (“child” in Runyoro) is a non-profit organization working to provide access to education for underprivileged children in Uganda. Through, among other things, the funding of their school fees, we empower them to continue their studies, develop their potential, and build a better future.

Retrouvez nos partenaires locaux et internationaux soutenant notre association. Our partners Our partners support us throughout the year and over the long term Click on the logos to be redirected to the relevant sites THE BUGOMA ASSOCIATION aims to support wildlife conservation activities in the Bugoma forest, located near the village of Kaseeta. This forest is host to more than 8 species of primates, in particular, a population of about 500 chimpanzees, and a population of Ugandan mangabey, the most northerly ever described. These populations are currently threatened by certain human activities in the surrounding area (e.g. the extension of sugar cane fields). The activities of our association aim to conserve this unique biodiversity, by supporting both research and eco-tourism activities, which can foster a local economic interest from the resident human population and thus prevent the destruction of the forest. BELTANE is a French family artisanal business, offering a large selection of natural stone jewelry. This company has supported us since the beginning, organizing fundraising for the benefit of our charity, making a monthly donation and sponsoring one of our students at the private level. Click on the image to discover their beautiful work. WARMERS KAMPALA is a Ugandan company specializing in the sale of bedding and living room products. To support us, the company donated us, among others, pillows for each of our boarding students. NANA KATS APOTHECARY is a small family apothecary with a passion for natural, ethical, planet friendly, vegan skincare based on the East coast of Scotland. They are supporting us through the sale of their products, by funding the tuition fees of one of our students. AU DELA DES SENS is a French company based in Côte d'Or that offers organic and natural beauty care exclusively for women, with home service. Vanessa has supported us from the beginning, and today a percentage of her service fees is donated to our association. PRECIOUS PLASTIC BUGOMA is a community-driven initiative dedicated to addressing the plastic pollution in Bugoma forest, Uganda. They Transforme Plastic Waste into Sustainable Souvenirs and made a few pins, magnets and keychain with our charity logo.

Apprenez en plus sur le projet OmWana de la creation de l'association a nos actions sur le terrain A word about OmWana OmWana is a French charity founded in 2022 by Harmonie K, an ethologist who has been working in Africa since 2017. The association was established in accordance with the French Law of 1 July 1901 , which governs non-profit organizations in France. As such, OmWana is independent of any political or religious organization and pursues a single public-interest mission: promoting access to education for disadvantaged children in Uganda. Our mission is to provide these children with access to quality education and the opportunity to build a better future . To achieve this, we cover their annual school fees and support them throughout their educational journey. How does the association operate? OmWana relies on the generosity of donors and sponsors. All donations received are dedicated to supporting the students, including: Payment of school and boarding fees; School uniforms, educational supplies, and essential equipment for children attending boarding schools; Logistical costs required to monitor and support the children in the field, including travel expenses for our local liaison officer, who regularly visits families and schools. Every term, funds are transferred to our Ugandan Vice-President, Solomon, who makes payments directly to the schools and provides the corresponding receipts and supporting documents. Committed to complete transparency, the association closely monitors each child's progress in cooperation with families, teachers, and school administrators. We receive students' academic reports at the end of every school term and conduct regular visits to assess their progress and needs. Why is our work important? In Uganda, many children have the opportunity to start school, but only a small number are able to complete their education. After primary school, educational costs increase significantly. Students often need to continue their studies in towns or cities and live in boarding schools, creating a substantial financial burden for their families. In addition, as children grow older, many are forced to leave school to assist their families with farming activities and contribute to household income. In response to this reality, OmWana is committed to supporting sponsored children through the completion of their secondary education, enabling them to obtain their school-leaving certificate and access greater opportunities for their future. Beyond school fees In addition to funding education, OmWana carries out several complementary initiatives (click to learn more): distributing school supplies and children's books, supporting girls' education through access to reusable menstrual hygiene products, developing projects that promote women's empowerment, organizing fundraising events, and establishing partnerships that provide financial support and educational resources for students. Transparency and commitment The trust of our donors is essential to our work. For this reason, OmWana is committed to ensuring rigorous and transparent management of all funds received. All expenditures are monitored and documented, and every donation directly contributes to giving children the opportunity to continue their education under the best possible conditions. Numbers The tuition fees represents an important cost comparing to the average salary. For example, in Uganda: - one year of tuition fees in primary school costs 120€ - one year of tuition fees in secondary school, boarding school included costs 370€ - Average annual salary is around 740€ -Average number of children per family is 5 children Ugandan school system According to official reports: -The school system is divided into three parts: -Primary education: 7 years -Secondary education: 6 years (2 cycles of 4 years & 2 years) -Post-secondary education: 3 to 5 years -The legal age of entry to school is 6 years old -Classes include between 70 & 150 students. -The teacher-student ratio is 1:40 -1 student in 10 will go to secondary school and 35% of these to post-secondary school -Gender inequality: 1 on 4 girls go to school Children OmWana primarily targets orphans or pupils whose parents are in difficulty (eg unemployed, disable, ill ) and students raised by single mothers. Because three out of four girls do not have access to school in Uganda, little girls are also a priority. The ideal objective is to provide for the entire education of a student in order to give him/her the best chance of success, at least until the baccalaureate. Donations Three formulas are available: free donation (minimum €1) the monthly donation (minimum €5. A base of €10 being the best option, i.e. the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes or a cinema ticket) patronage of a particular student throughout his or her schooling by direct payment of annual fees or by monthly payment. Material donations (pen, notebook, and other school supplies as well as socks, shoes, clothes, etc.) are accepted and collections are regularly organized in different locations in France. Sending parcels directly to the address of the association is also possible. Contact us to organize it. A word from the founder of the project "While leading wildlife conservation workshops in about ten schools in Kaseeta province in Uganda in 2019, I met a very talented young schoolboy, Moses. He was at the time one of the best students in his school and had proven it to me by participating in three of our workshops in a row and by showing great participation and liveliness. A few months later, during the graduation ceremony, I learned that his father had died and that, unable to continue to support the school fees of all her children, his mother wanted to withdraw him from school to send him to the fields. Faced with this twist of fate, I decided to help Moses for the rest of his schooling. I financed his last year of primary school and to my great surprise the costs only amounted to 120€, which for us Europeans citizens does not represent much over a year, but represents a substantial sum for an Ugandan family. This year, with the help of an Ugandan friend who managed the logistics between Moses' family and his school (Solomon), I could finance his secondary and boarding school fees in town. I regularly receive news from him and I am very glad to see that he is obtaining very good results. Over time, I have been contacted by many other children who were having difficulty paying their school fees, and the Covid-19 crisis worsens the situation. Unfortunately, at my level, I could not help more than one child and so I decided in June 2022 to create the OmWana association to help as many people as possible. I do believe that together we could do great things for them."

Children supported Here are some of the children our charity was able to support

Vous souhaitez aider les enfants de notre association? Vous pouvez le faire en faisant un don sur notre plateforme securisee HelloAsso. Donations Donations are directly made by HelloAsso via the form below (certified) note: fees are optional New! You can now do a donation directly on PAYPAL by scanning the following QR code: Attention! Please indicate "Donation" as details The donations are organized in four formulas : Free donation (minimum €1) Monthly donation (minimum €5. A base of €10 being the best option, i.e. the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes or a cinema ticket ) Student' sponsorship, covering the annual fees throughout the whole schooling, the fees can be paid at once or by monthly payment. NEW: Donation for a third person , with a donation certificate to offer. Choose to receive the certificate after making a donation by providing your personal details. The following school supply donations are accepted: Pencils Pens (blue and black only) Large double-lined notebooks only Geometry sets Erasers Rulers Pencil cases Backpacks Calculators Coloring pencils Other school supplies are not used in Uganda. We also accept books (in English), toys, clothing, and shoes (for children aged 5 and up). Collections are regularly organized in different locations in France. We will keep you informed via social networks. Sending package directly to the association's address is also possible. You can contact us to organize it.

Other actions In addition to funding the education of the children we support, we have other activities: Help young girls One of our main objectives is to promote access to education for young girls , because, in Uganda, three out of four girls will never go to school. Did you know? The majority of young girls leave school at puberty because of the onset of their period. In many countries and cultures, this remains taboo and women do not have access to menstrual protection. To overcome this, we would like to distribute reusable menstrual protection to young students like menstrual panties. Supporting women We regularly buy Ugandan handicrafts to resell at craft markets in Europe for the benefit of the association. Handmade by the women of Kaseeta village, these objects are much more than just crafts: they support children's education while promoting local know-how. Today, we want to go further. ✨ We are working to create a collective of women artisans, to offer them a space for training, autonomy and sustainable income. This ambitious project needs partners to see the light of day. Are you a brand, a company or a charitable patron? 👉 Write to us to discuss it and contribute to a project with a strong social impact! Charity sales We regularly organize sales of cakes, plants and crafts (baskets, table mats, tote bags, etc.) made by women from the village of Kaseeta on behalf of the association! All donations are donated to the association! If you are also interested in organizing this type of event in your city, contact us! Distribution of school supplies You can also help us by donating school supplies ! Pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, geometry kits, calculators, notebooks, erasers, pencil cases, backpacks, water bottles, rulers, etc. We all have some of these supplies in our cupboards that we don't use or no longer use! Give them a second life! We will distribute them directly in Uganda during our annual trips, to our students or in schools, so that entire classes can benefit from them. The photo below represents some donations collected in 2024: Children's Book Donations We also distribute children's books to support learning and a love of reading. If you would like to donate books (in English), please contact us! T-shirts and stickers We had T-shirts and stickers printed in Uganda with the association's logo. These t-shirts are intended for our students and members of the association. They were designed thanks to a special donation ( reminder: we assure you that donations made to the association through our form are only intended for the payment of school fees) If you would also like your T-shirt or sticker, contact us! All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the association! Polo shirts: £20 / €20 T-shirts: £15 / €15 Partners and donors support We work with organizations and partners who raise funds or provide direct support: • In 2024, the Protestant Church Jacobuskerk in the Netherlands raised over UGX 2,000,000 (€600) to support our activities. • In January 2024, Warmers Kampala (opposite) donated pillows to all OmWana boarding students.

Newsletter Find our annual newsletters summarizing our actions, annual budgets and projects (available in French FR and English EN) Newsletter1_Omwana_EN.pdf Newsletter2_Omwana_FR.pdf Newsletter3_Omwana_22-23_FR.pdf Newsletter4_OmWana_23-24_FR.pdf Newsletter5_OmWana 24-25_FR.pdf Newsletter2_Omwana_EN.pdf Newsletter3_Omwana_EN.pdf Newsletter4_OmWana_23-24_EN.pdf Newsletter5_Omwana24-25_EN.pdf Newsletter #6, issues 25-26, available in December 2026

Mais ou agissons nous? Situez le village de Kaseeta sur la carte d'Ouganda! Kaseeta is a small village located in Hoima District, Uganda, West Africa.