Dero Kwan

Restoring Hope Through Education

When a Society Loses Its Schools, It Loses Its Future.

For over twenty years, war and forced internment shattered Acoli society. Schools closed, families were torn apart, and generations of children were denied the chance to learn. Once a land of scholars and leaders, Acoliland is now facing an educational crisis. University intake from the region is negligible, and countless bright young minds are left behind simply because their parents cannot afford school fees.

Dero Kwan exists to change that.

A group of six people standing outdoors under a yellow tent, engaged in a conversation. The woman in the foreground is speaking and wearing a blue patterned dress and headscarf. Three men and one woman are listening, with the man on the right holding a book or folder. The background includes other attendees and pink signs with handwritten text.
Logo featuring the words "DEO KWAN" with a stylized image of a hut and a table with chairs, in black, brown, and yellow colors.

What is Dero Kwan?

Dero Kwan is a scholarship programme dedicated to giving hope back to Acoli’s children. It identifies hardworking, disciplined, and talented students from families unable to pay for school and ensures they are not denied the future they deserve.

The programme began in 2025, awarding its first 60 scholarships to Senior 1 students. As support grows, it will expand to cover O’Level, A’Level, university, and vocational education, opening doors for thousands more.

Built on Integrity

Dero Kwan is overseen by a trust fund, under the stewardship of Hon. Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo and Ambassador Olara Otunnu.

A carefully chosen selection committee ensures fairness, accountability, and absolute integrity, making Dero Kwan the gold standard of educational support.

From Education to Excellence: Celebrating Our Tribe

As a community, we have nurtured and produced some of the most celebrated individuals. Education has been the cornerstone of this journey, empowering our Tribe to dream bigger, achieve more, and inspire generations to come

Donate and Build future leaders

Educational Statistics That Continue to Plague Our Community

20%

decline in school attendance in Acholi and Lango between 2013 and 2018; war scars still keep children out of class.

7%

is the secondary school net enrolment rate in Acholi, one of the lowest in Uganda.

50%

of Primary 3 pupils cannot read or do basic maths, showing how children are in school but not learning

50%

of children in Northern Uganda suffer “learning poverty”; unable to read a simple story by age 10

4-6%

tertiary enrolment means only a tiny fraction of Northern Ugandan youth reach university

13

years old; the age at which boys’ dropout rates soar, while girls begin leaving school as early as 8

Some of the Bright Young Minds You Sponsor

A smiling young boy wearing a school uniform with a badge and green shorts with the name 'LAGU' on the waistband.
A young boy with short hair and dark skin standing outdoors, smiling, wearing a green T-shirt with a logo that says 'FAVOR HIGH SCHOOL' and 'WE ARE THE LIGHT'.
A young boy in a red shirt holding a blue measurement conversion table notebook outdoors.
A young woman with short hair wearing a green t-shirt standing outdoors in a grassy area with trees in the background.
A smiling girl in a school uniform standing outdoors with blurred greenery and a fence in the background.
A smiling young boy in a school uniform standing outdoors, with blurred green background.

Ambassador Olara Otunnu’s Dero Kwan Appeal

For over twenty years, the children of Acoli were denied their classrooms, their books, and their dreams. War and displacement stole not only their childhood, but the foundations of their future. Today, too many bright, hardworking children are being left behind simply because their families cannot afford school fees

A classroom filled with young students, mostly dressed in pink uniforms, sitting at wooden desks and paying attention to a teacher at the front. The classroom has unfinished walls and open windows.

Ka pe in, ci angaa

Support Your donation directly funds the education of disadvantaged Acoli students. Every contribution, large or small, makes the difference between a child being forced out of school or stepping into a classroom filled with hope.

$30/month supports a child’s school fees
$100/month supports both fees and essential supplies
$500 gives a student a full year of education

Education is the most powerful weapon we can give these children. With your help, we can rebuild what war destroyed.

Donate Today and Change Lives

Dero Kwan

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Be a Hope Donor - $100
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Be a Future Builder - $250
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Be a Dream Sponsor - $500
White baseball cap with a black silhouette of a person planting a small tree and the words "Pit Yen Pi Acoli" written below.
White baseball cap featuring a black scale of justice emblem surrounded by a laurel wreath and text in Haitian Creole.

Handmade Souvenirs by the Youth

White baseball cap with a graphic design including a small thatched roof, a table with chairs, and the text "DERO KWAN" in bold brown and yellow letters.
Black baseball cap with a graphic of a stylized dog holding an umbrella and the words "HERO KWAN" in bold letters, with "HERO" in brown and "KWAN" in yellow.

Contact us

Every hand, every voice, every gift makes a difference. Whether you want to volunteer, give, or partner with us, your action helps rebuild hope and opportunity for Acoli’s future. Reach out today, together we can transform lives.