Maria has been abandoned by both her parents and lives with her maternal grandmother. Maria’s parents were both students and her father disappeared after news of the pregnancy as he feared being imprisoned. Maria’s mother had to drop out of school because she could not afford it, left Maria with her mother, and went to start a new life. 

Her parents faced a situation that many young people in Uganda struggle with, but Maria will certainly pay the price for it if she does not receive additional support. Her elderly grandmother is unable to pay for her education, and if she remains with her she will one day have no support at all. She will face much hardship merely to get enough food to survive, and may even find herself with a child of her own and no way to care for it. Sponsorship is the key to helping Maria break the cycle of poverty she was born into. She will need to go to boarding school, where she will be safe, her needs will be met, and she will receive a high quality education.  

To help Maria go to boarding school, she will need $90/month from one sponsor, or $45/month from two sponsors.