Dorothy Kishanyu
Age 17-years-old
School St. Peter’s Naalya
Class Senior 3 (10th grade)
Village Kalungi Village, Rakai District
Family situation I am a double orphan. Both of my parents died from HIV/AIDS. I live with my cousin and her husband in a rural village without electricity or running water.
I want to be a nurse
Ambition Start a Health Center in my village.
Hobbies Playing volleyball and netball, listening to music, dancing, and reading novels.
My story
“I come from Kalungi Village, a small village in Rakai District, southwestern Uganda. When I was in 1st grade, my father died of HIV/AIDS. Life became miserable for me. Everything became scanty in the home and at times we slept on empty stomachs. We rarely had food, clothing and other necessities.
Two years later, my mother also died of HIV/AIDS. After her burial, my cousin came and took me to stay with her. She was married and I began to study in a remote school.
Uncle Steve Shames found me in this school when he came visiting. I had good report cards and Uncle Steve chose to take me to Kampala to be part of the L.E.A.D Uganda family and to continue with my studies. I have been in the program for six years now.
I love my school – St. Peter’s Naalya. I am in 10th grade. My best subject is Biology. Due to my leadership qualities and my spirit of excellence, I was chosen to be a chairperson of our discussion group at school.
My secret to excellence is education. Without it, one’s chances to succeed are narrowed. I value education because I saw girls in my village drop out school because of school fees or due to pregnancies. They lived miserable lives thereafter.
I want to be a Nurse. Nurses are caring people. They make other people’s lives comfortable. All nurses around the world are my role models. I feel I am destined to reach great heights.”
