CHARITIES

Speech by the
Executive Director
of Rocco Paco

Speech by the Executive Director of Rocco Paco
On the Occasion of Receiving Support from the Oulu Marathon Team. Venue: Oulu City Inn
Date: 29th June 2025
Theme: "Together for a Brighter Future"

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished Guests,
Members of the Gulu Marathon Team,
Friends and Partners in Development,
All Protocols Observed,

Good morning.
It is with profound gratitude and humility that I stand before you today on behalf of Rocco Paco to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Gulu Marathon Team for your generous financial support toward our scholarship program, Dero Kwan. Your gesture is not only kind-it is truly transformative.
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For those unfamiliar with Dero Kwan, it is a unique scholarship initiative aimed at rebuilding the education system in the Acholi subregion with a spirit of self­ determination. This spirit encourages every Acholi to take an active role in revitalizing education by contributing as little as 1,000 shillings annually to Dero Kwan, while Rocco Paco remains open to external financial support from individuals, corporate organizations, and donors. At Rocco Paco, we believe in empowering the Acholi people to take charge of their growth and development, moving away from the dependency mindset rooted in the era of IDP camps
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Dero Kwan supports vulnerable children in the Acholi subregion who are morally upright and academically capable but lack the financial means to afford school fees. I am delighted to share that last term, Rocco Paco enrolled 65 students as the first beneficiaries of the Dero Kwan scholarship program. These carefully selected students are now attending schools across the subregion.
While 65 students mark a significant milestone, this number is only a fraction of the many capable children who still lack access to education due to financial barriers. The support from
the Gulu Marathon Team is, therefore, both timely and impactful. Your contribution will not only help cover school fees for more students but also restore hope, affirm potential, and nurture the next generation of leaders, innovators, and peacebuilders.
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We are deeply inspired by the Gulu Marathon Team's commitment to running not just for fitness but for a greater purpose. Your strides on the road are transforming into steps of change for our most vulnerable children. This is the kind of solidarity our society needs-where sports, community, and compassion converge.
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Let me assure you that your contribution will directly support the education of the most deserving and needy children in the Acholi community. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that every shilling you have entrusted to us creates meaningful impact.
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This partnership symbolizes what we can achieve when we unite-not as separate institutions or causes, but as a community bound by a shared commitment to uplifting our people.
Looking ahead, we warmly invite further collaboration with the Gulu Marathon Team-not only in funding scholarships but also in creating mentorship, leadership, and psychosocial support opportunities for our youth. Let this be the beginning of a long and meaningful journey together.
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To every runner, organizer, donor, and friend of the Oulu Marathon: Thank you. Thank you for investing in the dreams of our children. Thank you for believing in the future of the Acholi subregion. Thank you for standing with Rocco Paco
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Together, we are running a race that truly matters.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.

CHARITIES