Millenium Baby
by Errol Daniels & Mary Lee
Victoria Nakasumba was born in Uganda January 1 st in the year 2000, as the world welcomed a new millennium of hope and promise. Uganda has not changed for Victoria since that historic day. Born into a large extended family, she takes her place as the youngest child of Mama Namuli Percy, mother of four. Victoria shares a tiny living space with her 14-year-old sister, Christine, and her brother, 10-year-old Ivan.
Mama Percy works in a small shack at the outskirts of the town, bringing little food to the residents and transient workers. This food depot brings in what little money the family needs to survive. The depot itself is a microcosm of life. Those who have no stove, or no home, come there for a bit of food. They buy a small portion of food from Mama Namuli to take home and share with all. photo above ©2008, Errol Daniels
Victoria’s brother, Katogole, 18, a Concern for the Future student who attends Uganda Martyr’s Senior Secondary School – Namugongo, one of the most eliute schools in Uganda, is quick to remember her as a smart and curious child. She would always ask him for help in English and other studies when he was not working at a rock quarry. (Before joining CFTF, Katongole worked at the quarry for half the school term to earn the money to pay his school fees, school uniform, shoes, and books.)
What a wonderful child Victoria is! She is devoted to her mother, helping with washing clothes, preparing food, and shopping in the village for a few potatoes.
Victoria was attending school in her local village, where she was receiving a sub-standard education. But she is capable of so much more, so Concern for the Future applied to Budo Junior, the best primary school in Uganda. Victoria was accepted.
Victoria can and will become a leader, but only if she is able to receive a quality education.
Our Students Excel – 32% Rank in Top 10
32% of our students who were ranked placed in the top ten students of their class. 46% were in the top twenty. (The average class size was 78. The largest class size was 221.)
Omoya Amos ranked 1st in his class at St. John Bosco Katende Primary. Wetaka Brian (photo left) was 5th.
Kasozi Hilda and Ntege Paul both ranked 5th at Uganda Martyrs SSS Namugongo. Kimbowa Julius was 2nd and Kibalama Joseph was 3rd at St. Joseph’s Nagalama Secondary School.
Muwanguzi Joseph was 3rd at Budo Junior Primary School. His sister, Nantaayi Sarah was 9th and his brother Ssenyange Frank came in 10th in their classes at Budo Jr. Pinyoloya Patricia was 11th.
“A” Level student Kamoga Moses received 19 points at St. Peter’s Naalya and Katongole Godfrey achieved a grade of 18 at Uganda Martyrs SSS Namugongo. These are top grades, equivilent to an “A” average.
Oweka Saviour and Nakyeyune Sanyu (center, photo below) achieved first grades on the national Primary Leaving Exams (PLE). First grades are achieved by the best students.
Stella Nabakka and Derrick Yiga scored first grades on their national Senior 4 examinations.
Nantongo Madinah was 5th and Kusasira Moses was 8th at St. Peter’s Nalya Secondary School.Kayiranga John was 2nd at his primary school. Acan Martha, Kaggwa Fred, and Ssebutinde Sunday received 1st grades at their primary schools which did not rank pupils. Naluwooza Maria finished 8th in her class at Kikaaya College,
We are proud of them all.
Students & Staff Visit New York
Three CFTF students, Charles Ojok, Sarah Nantaayi, and Godfrey Katongole, visited New York over the holidays with Monica Nankoma, director of Concern for the Future. They were invited by Franklin Furnace, an arts organization which promotes arts and cultural exchanges in New York City public schools. The students made presentations at PS 20, Elizabeth Irwin High School in Manhattan, and the A. Shomburg Satellite Academy in The Bronx.
Global Kids, an organization that transforms urban youth into successful students and global and community leaders, invited our students to attend three schools where they operate, including the High Schol for Global Citizenship in Brooklyn. Ojok and Katongole also went on a field trip to upstate New York with Global Kids.
Our students and Monica spoke to receptive audiences at Forefront Church and St. Peter’s Church in Manhattan. Forefront Church is a long time sponsor and partner of our efforts.
My Trip to New York City
by Godfrey Katongole
I am so glad to have gotten a chance to go to New York. It was a great opportunity for me and it means a lot to my life and future. Thanks to CFTFfor paying my expenses for the trip.
While in the US I visited a number of schools where I learnt some new things and also got to know life in the schools, which was different from the school life in Uganda in a number of ways. I made new friends and got to know more people.
Furthermore I went to museums,churches and many other places . Everywhere I went I learnt new things. In the museums I got to see the dinosaur skeletons. This was the first time I ever saw dinosaurs. Not only that but I got the chance also to see the ocean for the first time . I visited the aquarium, where I saw the sharks and a lot more ocean creatures.
While in the city I had a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and got to see some of tallest buildings and where the World Trade Center was before.
I like the subways and always prefer to use them. My first time on a ferry was also in the US where I had a ride from Manhattan to Staten Island. Also I got a trip to the woods, in the countryside of upstate New York with Global kids where I learnt a lot and got new skills of working as a group. photo: ©2008, Katongole Godfrey
On the other side I hated the cold weather and so yielded some flu, cold and cough. Anyway it was an experience for me.
All in all it was a wonderful trip and I thank the Almighty God who was behind all what I got. Thanks be to God.
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 © 2008, Stephen Shames / Polaris
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