Poverty in rural settings like Kalawa is common. Many households live on very little each month while trying to provide food, shelter, water, transport, and healthcare. In that setting, even a modest school fee can become one more burden that is difficult to carry.
At St. Joseph's Academy, the administration works with parents by allowing monthly installments and by not sending students home for lack of payment. Even so, balances can remain at the end of a term, and students may not be able to return the following term while carrying both the old balance and the new fees.
The effect reaches beyond one child. When fees go unpaid, it affects the overall running of the school, including day-to-day supplies and meals, maintenance and repairs, staff salaries, and the school's ability to plan ahead. Support for school fees helps students stay in school and helps St. Joseph's continue building hopes and dreams for the children it serves.