Kimbowa, whom the students call “Obama” because of his oratory skills, was elected Education Minister at Seeta High Schoo. He gathered 70% of the votes against two competitors. “The students liked him most because he is composed and smart. He voluntarily led prayers before the campign, so the students were familiar with him,” says Sanyu, his L.E.A.D Uganda sister.

PHOTO: Kimbowa’s campaign poster

Kimbowa transfered to Seeta High after getting a 1st grade on his 11th Grade / “O” Level National Exams. He was Head Prefect (Student Body President) at his former school. He chose to run for Education Minister, rather than Head Prefect so he could concentrate on his studies. Kimbowa hopes to earn a Government Sponsorship to university next year.

An email from last year: “It is such a great excitement to me to write to you again. How have you been since we last spoke?

Just to let you know about what I have been up to this term in school. I am now in my final year in ‘O’ level (11th grade). I have just handed over my office as the school’s Head Prefect. I have to do this because I need to concentrate on my studies and score highly on my final exams at the end of the year.

I am proud of my service to my school as its Head Prefect. In my time as head prefect, I managed to improve on the discipline of the students.  Being Head Prefect enhanced my public speaking skill. Before, I was a very shy student.

This term we had an exhibition at school with the theme ‘Maximize Your Potential’. It was aimed at helping my school, the community and our dear parents and guardians to create opportunities from locally available resources like grass, trees, land, and animals. 32 clubs were involved including; the Agriculture, Red Cross, Debate, and Art Clubs. My club demonstrated how to make shoe polish from old, used up batteries. We also made banana ice cream, soap, and tea from dried and pounded lemon. We gave the parents a little taste of what we produced: tea made from lemon skin, crushed jackfruit seeds and cocoa seeds. You should have been there. You missed!

I oversaw the whole program. I supervised my fellow students. I showed them how to explain what was going on to the visiting parents. You know, I was dressed like a laboratory attendant!  I really enjoyed the appearance, though my friends were amused. I can tell you that all went well according to plan. It was a great day.

Thank everyone for their help keeping me in school. Their support has really helped me to ascend to great heights. To be a club president is no small feat for me. I can not forget that before I was a child worker, making and selling envelopes for pills. I was out of school. Now I am becoming a leader.

I will work very hard so that I make you proud of me by scoring excellent grades. I now need to sign off. I must attend my biology class.

I covet your prayers, Kimbowa

Sanyu Nakyeyune, was elected Uniform and Language Minister at Seeta High after a three-way race. According Mrs. Kagoda, Seeta’s Headmistress, Sanyu is “is mature and knows what she wants. She demostrated the confidence and intellectual capacity to take on the ministerial role.”

Sanyu is the elder sister of Joseph, who was recently elected Head Boy of Budo Jr. School. At 10, Sanyu was head of the household, taking care of Joseph and Sarah. She has come a long way inthe past few years with the help of generous people like you and the L.E.A.D Uganda family.

PHOTO: Sanyu (right) in the computer lab.

Sanyu says, “My father died of AIDS when I was 4 years old. My mother died the next year. She left us in great sorrows with a 11-month-old baby, Sarah, 3-year-old Joseph. I used to stay home alone, as head ofthe family, and look after them when my elder sister and brother went to a boarding school

It was really hard for me to look after my little brother and my baby sister when I was 10-years-old.  Can you imagine a 10-year-old girl looking after her sister and her brother?  I had to to wake up very early in the morning to collect firewood from the forest, and fetch water from a borehole that was 1 km away from home. I had to travel a distance of 3 km to school every day on foot. After school, I dug in people’s gardens and washed people’s clothes to get money for food and to buy milk for the baby.

PHOTO: Sanyu in class at Seeta High, one of Uganda’s top high schools.

At that time, I thought my baby sister wouldn’t survive. There is a time when she got sick. I had no money to board a taxi and take her to the hospital. I didn’t have money for bills at the hospital and neither did I know what she was suffering from. I really lost hope.I thought my baby sister was going to die. Luckily she got better all by herself.

But God is great L.E.A.D Uganda came into my life.  Ever since I joined L.E.A.D Uganda, everything has changed.  L.E.A.D Uganda saved me from the sorrow of darkness.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO OF
JOSEPH BEING SWORN IN AS HEAD BOY

PHOTO: : Josepi takes the oath of office.

“My parent’s death caused many tears for me,” says Joseph whose parents died of HIV/AIDS when he was three, “I really loved them. I really miss them. Whenever I thought about them something bad would happen in my mind. I would burst into tears.

But my peers at L.E.A.D Uganda comforted me. They helped me stop thinking about my parents. Now I think about my future. Where I come from you only find poor people. The the only job is farming. Now I can be whatever I want.

PHOTO: 3-year-old Joseph (2nd from left) at the funeral of his mother in 2000.

“L.E.A.D Uganda has given me a very large family. I have many sisters now and many brothers, And we all are doing well. If they weren’t there, where would I be? L.E.A.D Uganda showed me the right way to behave as a leader, how to stand in front of other people, not fearing them. I was proud today when I saw myself in front of the other students, praying for them.”

Joseph, who is nicknamed Muwa, received 632 out of 870 votes (73%) in a three way race.

“Muwa is friendly to others,” relates Budo Junior’s Head Master Kavulu Ernest, “He listens to them. He is empathetic. The other children have confidence in him. They want him to lead them and they are happy about it.”

Joeph leads morning prayer at school.

“I have known this school since 1981 and this has not happened. Joseph is the first boy from a very poor family to become Head Boy,” says Budo Junior Head Master Kavulu Ernest, “What is unique about L.E.A.D Uganda is you have gone several steps higher than those other NGOs.”

The new Head Boy with Budo Juniors Head Master Kavulu Ernest and the newl Head Girl.

“You pay a lot of money to have your children in first class schools where leadership is valued,” continues Budo’s Head Master. We have hopes that Joseph can become an MP, a President, the manager of a bank, a very important person in the country. We have no doubt about that.”

“What other programs do may be wrong. It is not enough to help a child go to school if the child does not benefit a lot from the school. Others take children to poor schools. I’m saying poor because the (academic) presentation in these schools is not enough. So the drop out rate is very high.

UGANDA FACT: Only 47% of students complete 7th grade. The majority of those who drop out are girls.

“L.E.A.D picks vulnerable children from rural areas. Uganda has very many of these children. They have brains but they can not access education that can tap their talents. The gap of having no parents must be filled. Emotional strength comes from parents and those who take up the responsibility of parents, like L.E.A.D Uganda. You visit them. You joke with therm. You play with them. They tell you their problems. You help them get strong emotionally. Every need of the child is met from a small pencil to the biggest book.”

In class.

“L.E.A.D gets value for its’ money, concludes Mr. Kavulu, “When you see the fruit of your labor — a person like Muwa — when he leaves this school and you see him in a responsible position, you will be very proud of him.

What I would request of you and the community in the United States that supports you, is to lift as many children as you can from rural areas. Take them to the best schools so these children can get the right education and then they will become important persons in the country. That will be very good for this country and, of course, the world at large.”

The effort to have L.E.A.D Uganda receive a donation was led by participant Eric Niles, who is the son of Dr. Charles and Ellen Niles. Eric has been aware of his parents’ involvement with L.E.A.D for a few years, and he wanted to do something on his own.  Eric’s excellent presentation on behalf of LEAD resulted in the leadership program receiving the largest amount to a single agency.

The Teen Tzedakah Fund is a program designed to teach Jewish teens to embrace charity as a lifelong value. The seventeen teenage participants allocated $15,000 to Jewish and Non-Jewish agencies. Each participant gave a presentation to the entire panel regarding their favorite charity.  The entire group then voted for the most deserving agencies, and how much money would be given to each.

Eric also collects used and new books from friends and family members, and sells them online in a bookstore he has created on Amazon.com. He has donated $450 from those proceeds to L.E.A.D Uganda. Eric is an outstanding young man, and we are proud to have him as a supporter.

*CONCERT FOR UGANDA*

*July 7*

*Highline Ballroom*
431 W. 16th Street (between 9th and 10th Ave.)
New York City

TICKET INFO: http://highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1538

*Doors at 6:00 p.m.; Show at 7:30 p.m.*
*$12/advance; $15/day of show*

*FEATURING*

The Kin (www.thekin.com)
Dan Torres (www.dantorresmusic.net)
Caleb Hawley(calebhawley.com)

TICKET INFO:

http://highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1538

**100% of the evening’s proceeds will go to support a team of volunteers traveling to Uganda to assist L.E.A.D Uganda in its mission to mold AIDS orphans and former child soldiers into the future leaders of Africa.**

New York City, May 19, 2010 – Artists Shyvonne, Moruf, and Lions, Tigers, and Bear sang and The Violator All-Star DJ, All-En1 DJed at a well attended artist showcase benefiting L.E.A.D Uganda at Lower East Side’s trendy Gallery Bar. The event raised more than $1,000 to benefit children in Uganda affected by AIDS, war, and poverty.

Please credit all photographs: Heidi Gutman Caption: Shyvonne singing.

L.E.A.D Uganda, founded in 2004 by famed photographer Stephen Shames, is an educational leadership initiative for children affected by AIDS, war, and poverty. L.E.A.D Uganda locates the brightest children living on the edges of society—AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers. L.E.A.D Uganda enrolls them in the best schools, helps them climb to the top of their class, and propels them to university. The idea is to transform the children into leaders. Instead of remaining victims, they will be able to lead Africa into the 21st Century.

Caption: Moruf singing.

Third City, New York organized the benefit for L.E.A.D. Uganda to build awareness empower young professionals to support philanthropic initiatives.

Founder Stephen Shames explained, “Support from young professionals makes it possible for L.E.A.D Uganda’s children to attend the best schools, where they earn high marks and gain self-esteem. Our scholars experience the healing and transforming powers of education. They will become leaders in the country they love. They will help Africa and the world”.

CAPTION: TOP: Andrea Smith and Stephen Shames, founder of L.E.A.D Uganda, talk with former U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Jimmy Kolker.   BOTTOM: Audience at Benefit

AND  WAY BELOW

….THE ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENT.

THANK YOU THIRD CITY……..

Tiffany, Byron, & Naja.  and MOM: Valerie

View the video.

5 received A-plus grades. 4 earned A marks. 2  got A-minuses.

Three of our students achieved 4 aggregates, a perfect score.

We are proud of them all.
Students are marked 1 through 9 in four subjects. 1 is the top score.

photo: Amos (center) earned an A-plus. Joseph (front, right), and Bedogwar (left) received A grades

Mid-term performance for L.E.A.D Uganda’s primary school pupils.

A +

Amos  - 1st grade  -  4 aqgrregates
Victoria – 1st grade  -  4 aggregates  (1st in class)
Rahim   – 1st grade – 4 aggregates  (1st in class)
Lynette*  -  1st grade  -  5 aggregates
Georgina* – 1st grade  -  6 aggregates    (2nd in class)

A

Joseph  -  1st grade  -  8 agggregates
Regius*  -  1st grade  -  9 aggregates
Bedogwar*  -  1st grade  -  9 aggregates
Veronica*  -  1st grade  -  10 aggregates

A -

Siyon  -  1st grade  -  11 aggregates
Gloria* -  1st grade  -  12 aggregates

* indicates one of our new students.

photo: Victoria

photo: Georgina

B +

Sarah  -  2nd grade  -  13 aggregates
Patricia – 2nd grade  -  14 aggregates.

B

Dorah*  -  2nd grade  -  17 aggregates

C+

Shirat – 3rd grade  -  26 aggregates.

Veronica

Many of our student-leadera held workshops and tutored their peers to help them perform better in school:

• Six of our high school students held workshops.

• 7th grader Amos conducted a workshop for primary students.

• Twenty students tutored and mentored younger students.

• Katongole held a workshop on getting into university.

• Moses won a scholarship to attend a leadership seminar in India.

The UNICEF podcast can be heard by clicking here:

Learning to be leaders in Uganda

If the link does not work, cut and paste this onto your browswer:

http://www.educationandtransition.org/resources/podcasts/learning-to-be-leaders-in-uganda/

L.E.A.D Uganda student Sanyu interviewed at the United Nations Radio.

This is what UNICEF said about the podcast on their website:

NEW YORK, USA, 8 February 2010 – UNICEF’s recently launched Humanitarian Action Report 2010, estimates that at least 1.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Uganda due to droughts, flooding, internal displacement and the return of at least 300,000 Ugandans following the cessation of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) activities.

Other UNICEF figures reveal that nearly half the estimated 2 million Ugandan orphans are orphaned due to AIDS, and the LRA has abducted more than 25,000 children since 1986.

Podcast moderator Amy Costello spoke with two Ugandan students, Sanyu, 14, who was orphaned by AIDS, and Nokrach, 16, a former child soldier, about their experiences and the transformative impact education has had on their lives.

“Maybe I’d be dead”

After losing both her parents to AIDS when she was very young, Sanyu had to drop out of school to take care of her young sister and brother.

Soon after, she met American photographer Steven Shames, and now Sanyu attends one of the top schools in Uganda. She is supported by Mr. Shames’ organization L.E.A.D. Uganda, an education and leadership program for disadvantaged children in Uganda.

When asked what she thought would have happened if she hadn’t become involved with L.E.A.D. Uganda Sanyu says thoughtfully, “I don’t know. Maybe I’d be dead”.

Becoming leaders

L.E.A.D Uganda student Nokrach interviewed at the United Nations Radio.

Nokrach says he was only 7 years old when rebel soldiers abducted him and forced him to fight in Uganda’s civil war.

After fleeing the conflict, Nokrach also became involved with L.E.A.D Uganda, and is now attending school, which he says has improved his confidence.

“I can lead my friends and lead the country maybe one day and I think I (now) have the courage and leadership skills… I believe I can make it,” he says.

Sanyu says education cannot be taken for granted.

“Education… is to do with the future and that’s how you can achieve your dreams and your goals,” Sanyu says. “I aspire to be a doctor… I want to fight AIDS that takes the life of many in my country”.

———-
photos: ©2009, Stephen Shames / Polaris
These photographs may be used to discuss L.E.A.D Uganda.