EDUganda Project Looks to Fund Sustainable Solutions

Can you make the world a better place by singing? Well at Rooster’s karaoke night it doesn’t matter how off-key y’all might be because the people in Uganda will benefit.

The EDUganda Project is a student-led organization established at University of Mississippi in 2007. The name stands for Education and Development for Uganda. It has four values: self-sustainability, education, loving environments and funding sustainable solutions in Uganda.

EDUganda funds programs for children and families living in severe poverty living in the Mukono district of Uganda. With help of EDUganda seven students are pursuing their educations and AIDS programs are in numerous schools. There is a livestock project where the locals practice cooperative business as they promote the local economy in the Mukono district.

Jessica Bunch, president of EDUganda organization at the university, “All of our projects are based in Mukono, Uganda, but we have set higher funding goals in order to expand our projects to other communities in Uganda.”

In order to expand the programs the members of EDUganda are hosting a fundraiser karaoke night at Roosters from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. There is a $5 cover and the bar is open to all ages above 18. This is an opportunity for college students to have productive fun!

Bunch said, “Our fundraiser at Rooster’s was put together by an amazing group of Ole Miss MBA students who, for their final project, have to run a business for a month and provide the net proceeds to an organization of their choice. EDUganda is beyond appreciative to be chosen for their project and excited for all the new funding ideas they have. Our initial hope as a student organization is to spread the passion that we have towards helping others locally and internationally.”

Three groups of students came to EDUganda from Dr. Clay Dibrell’s MBA 662 Entrepreneurship class. Bunch had pitched to the class with a video of what EDUganda does.

Dr. Dibrell said, “Jessica is doing an exceptional job and successfully pitched EDUganda to MBA students who voluntarily selected this project. In her pitch she created an excellent video which does a very good job explaining how the profits will benefit and transform the lives of others.”

Ciara Oakley, one of the chiefs of EDUganda and also one of the MBA students, said, “This cause was brought to our attention when we were assigned a social entrepreneurship project for one of our MBA classes, and we are really hoping to bring awareness to not only this organization, but also their amazing cause.”

The group made a website to inform on their cause and projects. The website has a store of items from crayons to a school uniform a donor could by to help the students pursue their education. The donors can also purchase children’s meal plans, donate $1000 for a grade school scholarship and $2000 for a college scholarship.

All proceeds from the Karaoke Night at Rooster’s tonight will be passed on to one of its two partners, Alliance Africa to help it focus on its goal of improving educational opportunities for the Ugandan people.

To keep up with EDUganda, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Callie Daniels is a staff reporter for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at callie.daniels@hottytoddy.com.