Simon and his siblings currently live with his Aunt Agnes because both of his parents were killed years ago during cattle raids. His attendance at school has been irregular due to lack of finances to pay the school fees. He has had to take grade 7 three times because of his lack of finances to finish. But during the times he was in school, he always performed well and got high grades. Thankfully, he was finally able to do his final exams for P7 and is now waiting for his results to get into secondary school. But he will not be able to go to secondary school without a sponsor.
The family eats only one meal a day. His Aunt Agnes is HIV positive and earns a meager living through brewing and selling alcohol to the community, as well as gardening duties for neighbors, in return for food or money. They have no other source of income. Despite the family’s poor conditions, Simon is a brilliant and well behaved young man. Simon enjoys playing soccer, debating with his classmates, and reading books! During the lockdown while many of his peers were engaging in bad behaviors such as alcoholism and vandalism, Simon was working hard helping his Aunt plant seeds in their garden. Simon says he would like to work in government someday. He wants to become a leader in the community to represent the views of the vulnerable and silent people in his community to the outside world. Could you be the one to give Simon hope and empower him, so that he can then make a difference in his community?
Update as of May 2022: Simon recently lost most of his family members who were living with him and his Aunt, due to violent cattle raids that have been going on again this year in the Napak district. He is struggling with psychological trauma and our staff have helped him get to a professional counselor so that he can work through his grief and shock and continue with his schooling.
Loduk, also known as Musa, comes from a family of five children and a nephew who also lives with them. The family is Christian and regularly attends church. But sadly, the parents are struggling to afford to feed and educate all their children. They usually eat one meal a day. They raise a small garden, and the parents also run a small grocery shop which provides some income. Because Loduk’s parents cannot afford to send them all to school, his siblings spend their time roaming around the area looking for a way to meet the needs of the family, instead of being educated.
Loduk is in primary 6, and is currently in the middle of mid-term examinations. His favorite subject is math! His favorite game is football (American soccer) and he loves being the goal keeper for the school football team. He also enjoys farming, taking care of the animals, and listening to Gospel music! He owns a few goats and cows and often sells the cassava he grows in the village. He is a responsible, hard working young man.
He has been able to go to school because of the help of ECM, but he requires two sponsors at $37 a month to fully cover his needs. He has one sponsor, but lost the other one. Not being in school puts children in this area at great risk for child trafficking. Loduk really wants to continue studying and make something of his life! He aspires to become an agricultural specialist when he grows up, because of his love for animals and agriculture! He would also love to expand his family’s farm with more animals, and more land for growing vegetables. Could you be the one to give him hope, help him reach his goals and make a difference in his community?
Abram lives with his parents, 5 siblings, and 2 cousins. He has an unusual zeal for education, and this was not understood by his family. When he started school, he was often mistreated. He was sometimes beaten for studying instead of tending the cattle. But later, his performance in school inspired his parents to support his education. Abram’s parents cannot support him through school. Despite famine and long droughts, they do small scale farming but don’t reap much.
Though Abram is high school age, he is in grade 8. He is academically behind, as are most of the children in this area, due to the trauma that affected their community from the LRA & Joseph Kony war years ago. Your sponsorship will provide for Abram’s education, and allow for his family to receive regular visits for encouragement and counseling, and help to improve their farming techniques. Abram will also attend a weekly Bible club. Your sponsorship will transform Abram’s life! Will you help Abram get on the path toward a bright and hopeful future?
