HUGS helps children, who face obstacles which prevent them from entering education, to attend school and benefit from the liberating power of learning. Our sponsorship programme particularly supports children with disabilities (often sight or hearing loss) and those from families which are in inescapable poverty, often as a result of disease or violence.
January is a joyful time in the HUGS calendar as we celebrate the achievements of the students who have come to the end of their studies. The Ugandan school year ends in December, and over the last three weeks we have received 80 school reports. Our school heads and Trusted representatives are working hard. Please join us in wishing all our school leavers the best.
HUGS started 25 years ago, as a small support programme for 9 disadvantaged children, living in a poor community near to Mubende, who were orphaned because of HIV. Father John Kyazze, (born himself in the village) teamed up with HUGS founder Peter Mount, to raise funds for their school fees. Roll forward to today and we see the same community has been irreversibly improved by the development of St Zoes Primary and Secondary School (caring for 450 children). This year 5 HUGS sponsored children have graduated from the school.
Rehema Nabrinda, Mary Nawatti and Edison Kasereka have completed their O levels and are nervously awaiting their grades. When Rehema and Mary were just small girls, the school principals noticed them watching other children attend school, when they stayed at home, and asked HUGS to help out. They are now both emancipated, bright young woman. Mary has always been a talented singer and dancer and Rehema is fiercely academic. Edison is a star pupil. When HUGS Trustees met him he was head-prefect and school goal-keeper (taking advantage of starting school late, he had extra height on the sports pitch). He is from a family of 6 children, where he and his siblings run their own home, as their single father works away.
In St Zoe’s Primary School, Fredrick Ganafa and Winifred Nayiga (both aged 11) have taken their Primary Leaving Exams. If they do well, we will continue their sponsorship into secondary school. Fredrick always scored top marks in his class but his family fell into poverty after his father died. Winnifreds home situation is so precarious, that she is almost entirely cared for by the order of Sisters who run the school, as she has no parents of her own.
Some of you may remember Amiru, a blind child who Sebastain from St Francis de Sales School, brought to our attention in 2017. HUGS helped him to remain in school, by buying wooden crutches and a braille typewriter. He has just completed his Primary education and has done well.
Claire Nakanwagi is awaiting her A Level results. She has her sights on being a doctor, and just as it is in the UK, her future plans depend on her grades. Her school report comments on her strength of character and how she is a very good performer and comedian! Ever since HUGs has supported her she has maintained grade 1 passes every year.
And finally, we are so proud of Rosemary Nabiyre who has been blind since birth, and was raised by her single mother, working as a subsistence farmer. Imagine the barriers she has faced to even start school. She has graduated from Makarere University with a degree in Social Work.
All these remarkable stories are only possible because of the repeated generosity of our donors. Thank you for making this happen. Each child is a miracle and together we are helping them reach their full potential.