Operation International is known for providing medical care around the world for those in need–but that isn’t the only way the organization is impacting lives.

OI has recently expanded its reach to help children by building and supporting schools and orphanages in Uganda, where the severe HIV/AIDS epidemic has left many children without parents or guardians.

Among those schools is the Jack Van de Wetering School and Orphanage, where most recently Operation International agreed to pay tuition, supplies and all other expenses for three children in need.

Let’s meet the three students who have received this life-changing support:

Ninsiima

Fourteen-year-old Ninsiima Andrew had completed the primary level schooling at Jack Van de Wetering when his father passed away, leaving his mother unable to afford his tuition.

Thanks to Operation International’s support, Ninsiima is now enrolled in secondary school and will be provided a new laptop computer for his education.

During the holidays, Ninsiima works in a banana plantation and has dreams of becoming a doctor.

“I’m happy, happy because of Operation International,” Ninsiima said.

Nalubowa

Nalubowa Jane, who is now 16 years old, is an orphan who lived in a village where girls were forced into arranged marriages as young as 13 or 14 years old.

“It was a terrible situation in our village–many children were forced to join arranged marriages to become a teenage parent,” Nalubowa said.

Uganda has the 16th highest prevalence of child marriage in the world, according to UNICEF. Although it has improved in recent decades, 34 percent of women are still married before the age of 18 and 7.3 percent before the age of 15. The rate of teenage pregnancy among girls 15 to 19 years old is 25 percent.

Investing in young girls’ education is known as one of the biggest factors in preventing child marriage.

For Nalubowa, the chance for an education at Jack Van de Wetering will help her reach her dream of becoming a surgeon.

“Operation International has put my dream in motion,” she said.

Nannono

Facing a similar future as Nalubowa, Nannono Rose is another young girl whose life has changed thanks to Operation International. At 14 years old, Nannono is also an orphan.

Nannono has dreams of one day becoming a nurse so she can “help the sick.”

“I’m very happy because Operation International has paid for my school,” Nannono said.

Operation International believes every child deserves to live a happy and healthy life, properly fed, clothed, sheltered, and educated, in addition to receiving quality health care as a basic human right.

Volunteers, donors and supporters like you are making a difference in the lives of Ninsiima, Nalubowa, Nannono, and hundreds of other children. To learn more or to learn how to sponsor one of these children in need, click here.