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| Jenny Benson with Aninga, the inspiration behind the Aninga Project. (Photo courtesy of Jenny Benson) |
Some chose to donate to their charity of choice, others volunteer. Jenny Benson took it one step further – she created her charity of choice.
After graduating in 2007 with a BA in Sociology and Social Anthropology and then in 2009 with a MA in the same discipline from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Dalhousie University, Ms. Benson made the decision to start a not-for-profit organization.
The Association for the Aninga Project (The Aninga Project) is in its early stages of development. The charity is named after Aninga, the first girl whose education is being funded through the initiative, and focuses on providing the support required for girls in Africa to obtain an education that is otherwise not available to them.
By paying for school fees, boarding fees, transportation, uniforms and other necessities, funds raised through The Aninga Project will allow girls in Africa to reach a point in their education where they can run for government-sponsored university scholarship programs. The current focus is on Uganda where there are a number of universities. The Ugandan government allocates a certain number of university scholarships to various regions that students can qualify for after obtaining their A-levels (Advanced Level general certificate of education – educational qualifications offered by institutions in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries).
“Our goal is to provide female students with the financial support needed to reach the point where they can run for these scholarship programs,” says Ms. Benson. “Not only will this give these females an opportunity to run in government scholarship competitions but it will also give them a high school-equivalent education.”
In August 2009, Ms. Benson spent the month in Uganda to better assess the situation. “I traveled straight east to the Kenyan border to camp at the top of Sipi Falls and straight west to the Congolese border,” she explains. “The most northern regions of Uganda are extremely dangerous, particularly where Aninga’s village is located which is very close to both the Congolese and Sudanese boarders.” Aninga traveled a full day from northern Uganda to Kampala to visit Ms. Benson where she was based during her stay. The Canadian government advises that under no circumstances should Canadian citizens travel to northern Uganda.
Two prominent issues plaguing Uganda are HIV/AIDS and poverty. “An important element of this initiative is that the girls we sponsor will learn about sexual and reproductive health,” says Ms. Benson. “With HIV/AIDS and poverty, resulting from large family sizes, being two of the greatest issues plaguing the country, this will give females the knowledge needed to avoid prominent problems facing Ugandans today.”
An undertaking such as this requires a strong support system; that is exactly what Ms. Benson has. “My family is extremely supportive of the project and my Mom, Fiona, is a key member of the board I am (in the process of) pulling together.”
Constance Shumba, who resides in Kampala, has also been supportive of Ms. Benson and her initiative. Having met in 2006 when Ms. Shumba was a delegate at the Worlds AIDS Conference in Toronto, Ms. Benson received direction and guidance from Ms. Shumba and her husband, Dr. Gershim Asiki. The couple is Jenny’s links to Uganda while she is in Canada. They are both committed to the vision for the Aninga Project and will ensure that all funds raised end up exactly where they belong by hand delivering the money to each school’s doorstep.
Ms. Benson has also received support from local individuals and organizations, including Karen Stilwill from McInnes Cooper who is donating her time and services to help Ms. Benson complete the paperwork associated with establishing a charitable organization.
So, what does the future hold for a not-for-profit organization that just getting up and running? It’s simple. As Ms. Benson puts it, “the possibilities are endless!”
If you would like more information or become involved with The Aninga Project please contact Jenny Benson at aningaproject@gmail.com. You can also join the Facebook group by searching "The Aninga Project."