TRANSFORMING LIVES:
Turning Uganda’s Forgotten Children Into Leaders

Published by Star Bright Books

Photographs & Essay by Award-Winning Photojournalist Stephen Shames
Foreword by People magazine writer Pete Norman.

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PUBLICATION DATE: October 1, 2009
8×10 inches. 44 pages.
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The book will be available for purchase through the LEAD Uganda website starting September 2, 2009, for $12.95. (plus $3 shipping) If you order the book before October 1st you will receive a signed book and free shipping.

THE BOOK
Nearly every child in Uganda is affected by poverty, HIV/AIDS, abduction, and brutal war. Many have witnessed trauma that no child should ever experience. And yet, despite their lost innocence, these children still possess a burning desire to succeed and to serve their country. Transforming Lives: Turning Uganda’s Forgotten Children Into Leaders (Star Bright Books, October 2009) documents the powerful and inspirational stories of thirteen young and talented Ugandan boys and girls who are on their way to leading their country into a brighter future. These are children who are beating the odds through a combination of personal grit and determination, and with the help of LEAD Uganda, an educational leadership initiative founded by photographer and child advocate Stephen Shames, that seeks out forgotten children and offers them education, security, emotional pport, and most importantly, the chance to become the next leaders of the country they love.

These children are beating the odds through a combination of personal grit and determination, and with the help of L.E.A.D Uganda, an educational leadership initiative founded by photographer and child advocate Stephen Shames, that seeks out forgotten children and offers them education, security, emotional support, and most importantly, the chance to become the next leaders of the country they love.

Through the children’s essays and drawings and Shames’ photographs, Transforming Lives presents a compelling and candid portrait of these resilient children of Uganda. AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers, and children living in refugee camps are now attending the best schools in their country alongside the children of Uganda’s elite, earning high marks, gaining self esteem, and experiencing first-hand the healing and transforming powers of education.

In Transforming Lives you will read about our students, including:

Katongole, who as a teenager worked in a quarry breaking stones into pebbles for 1,500 shillings (73 cents a day). He couldn’t afford to go to school fulltime, but his innate abilities and resilience have rewarded him with a full scholarship to pharmacy school.

Ronald, a past child soldier, who lost his father and right arm to rebel fighters. Without drive and assistance, he would not have been able to work, but now his dream of being a lawyer is a reality.

Sarah, a double AIDS orphan, who lost her mother and father before her first birthday. As a child, she struggled to help raise her siblings, walking up to five miles a day to fetch water from a well. She is now first in her class and dreams of helping other children in need.

Hilda, who lost her father when she was a baby, and has a mother who is HIV positive and struggling to raise six children, is now the deputy head girl at the best high school in Uganda. Hilda’s goal is to be a neurosurgeon and create jobs by building her own hospital.

SOME BOOK PAGES

This is a great book to share with the entire family, and includes tips on how you can raise money to help the kids.

Fourteen of our high school students received A averages. Two of them, Madinah and Sanyu, compiled A-plus marks. Namakula Afuat ranked 1st in her class. Seven received B averages.

Six of our primary students received A averages. Four — Amos, Joseph, Victorias, and Rahim got A-pluses. Joseph ranked first in his class. Sarah, Victoria, and Rahim were second. Three got B averages.

Our students received first grades on their national exams: the UCE (Uganda Certificate of Education) taken in 11th grade and the Primary Leaving Exams taken in 7th grade.

All four of our 11th graders — Aloysious, Hilda, Alex, and Sylvester — received 1st grades. All will continue at top high schools. Aloysious, an AIDS orphan from Rakai (photo, right) did best. He received 14 aggregates in 8 subjects— an excellent performance. (Students are graded 1 to 9 in 8 subjects. The best possible score is 8. 72 is the lowest score. 32 and above is a first grade.)

Three of our seven 7th grade students received first grades, Three received high second grades. The six will go to the top high schools.

A dozen of our students were elected to leadership positions at their schools:

•  Namakula Afuat, who is only in 8th grade, was elected Deputy Head Prefect (vice president) of her school.

•  Kasozi Hilda (11th grade), Kimbiwa Julius (10th), and Bayona Victoria (13th) were elected Deputy Head Prefects.

•  Kamoga Moses is Minister of Education and founder of the Debate Club.

• Kibalama Joseph is Minister of Water & Power.

Donate

LEAD Uganda has two premium contribution levels: Sponsor and Patron.
Sponsors and Patrons receive a photo, letters from
their student, and progress reports from us.

Sponsors pay all costs for one child — $150 a month.

$150 a month — $5 a day pays for
everything a child needs to succeed: school fees, books, clothes, medical care, workshops in math, science, computers, and leadership, emotional support, counseling, and a family.

Sponsors are assigned a student. They receive monthly letters from their student, and progress reports from us. They may also receive photographs, drawings, and other materials.

Patrons donate $50 or $100 a month.

$100 a month – $3 a day - pays school fees (tuition), plus room, and board, books, and uniform at one of the best high schools in Uganda.

$50 a month – $1.50 a day – covers school fees for one scholar at a top school.

Patrons receive letters from students and progress reports from us. They are not assigned one student.

Please give what you can. Every donation helps.

$25 a month covers workshops in leadership, video, science, and writing, transportation home during school breaks, school visits, and staff support for one student.

$10 a month buys school supplies. clothes, shoes for one child.

$5 a month provides medical care and books for one student.

Please help a child achieve his or her dreams.
All contributions make a difference.

LEAD Uganda is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Donations are tax deductible.

Photography except as noted: © 2009, Stephen Shames / Polaris

ALL EVENT PHOTOS: ©2009, Ron Jautz

Newsletter Editors: Stephen Magezi & Wasswa Charles

Please feel free to distribute or forward this newsletter to friends, co-workers, and anyone else you think would like to know about LEAD Uganda.

LEAD Uganda high school student Ntege Paul started the prestigious African Leadership Academy in September, 2008. This elite boarding school, located in Johannesburg, South Africa, accepted only 100 students from all of Africa. Paul received a full scholarship (worth over $20,000) from the school.

“Ntege is a disciplined boy with an excellent record. I am not surprised that he passed the African Leadership academy interviews”, Nakiggude Proscovia, an English teacher at Paul’s former school, Uganda Martyr’s Senior Secondary School -Naumgongo, said amidst cheers from other teachers.

His excited Mother, Topista added, “Paul is a focused boy both in his studies and while doing chores at home.”

“Believing in my self in my daily life and keeping focused while at school yields good success,” Ntege says, “I am happy and I owe my success to Concern for the Future and Stephen Shames, who took me to Concern for the Future. I had a problem with school fees.   At one time I thought I would never make it, because when I was 11-years-old, I had to work in a stone quarry to provide food for my family. But with God’s grace, all is possible.”

“There’s no short cut to success. Success comes through hard work and trusting in God,” says Monica Nankoma, Director of Concern for the Future, “Paul exhibits such traits. I knew he would not disappoint us.”

We are proud of Paul. His success shows what can be achieved when deserving youngsters are given the chance to become leaders by studying at the best schools. That is what our LEAD Uganda educational leadership program does.

Donate

LEAD Uganda has two premium contribution levels: Sponsor and Patron.
Sponsors and Patrons receive a photo, letters from
their student, and progress reports from us.

LEAD Uganda is a 501(c)3 non-profit.

Donations are tax deductible.

Photography except as noted: © 2009, Stephen Shames / Polaris

ALL EVENT PHOTOS: ©2009, Ron Jautz