Students at The Collective Heart Academy in Katikamu, Uganda

Establishing and securing educational opportunities for children is a critical component to the mission of the Just Like My Child Foundation. Sending children to school in many villages in Uganda can literally mean saving their lives. Many students who are not in school will become sexually active as early as 12-years old. With over 30% of the adult population testing positive for HIV, this is certainly a life-threatening behavior.

Moreover, the United Nations has consistently advocated that educating girls has a greater impact on the world than any other initiative. It doesn't take long to see that there are few better ways to change the course of the world than getting girls into school and keeping them there. Educated girls can better protect themselves against HIV, trafficking and abuse, and are more likely to grow up to have healthier families and send their children to school.

That is why United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his groundbreaking address to the Millennium Assembly, reminded us that there can be no significant or sustainable transformation in societies—and no lasting reduction in global poverty—until girls receive the basic quality education they deserve—and take their rightful place as equal partners.

In addition to its benefits for girls and women, education is a uniquely positive force with a wide-ranging impact on society and human development.

The Just Like My Child Foundation is committed to providing education to the children of Africa. By the end of 2010, Just Like My Child will complete 6 schools.

Oryang Ben is a local community leader in Katikamu, Uganda- a rural area made up of 300 villages, and home to more than 2,000 children. He represents a member of every community we're working with, and in the video above, shares the importance of building a local school in his home community so that children can attend school without the danger of walking long distances, unprotected.