Wasswa Charles is studying video and journalism in a college-level course.
Age 20-years-old
School Buganda Royal Institute
Class Year 1 (Freshman)
City Salaama section of Kampala
Family situation I live with my mother. She is living Positively. My father died from HIV/AIDS
I want to be a photo-journalist
Ambition Do stories about children who are suffering so people will help them.
Hobbies Photography
My story
“Unfortunately my father passed away. It’s now many years since he left us on Earth. He was a loving father. I remember him driving us to school and coming for us when he got off early from work. I really miss my father too much.
After the death of my father, my younger brother and I had to sit at home without going to school for more than two and a half years. I missed school so much. I had no hope that I could ever learn to read and write a note like this using my own words.
Our family members barred us from the burial place because they wanted our father to give them the land where we had built our house and send our mommy to the village with us. I really love my mother because she didn’t agree to let these people take our land from us.
Finally I went back to school. Sometimes I had to come back from school and fetch water for some people to buy a pen or a book. The most I could earn was 200 shillings (11¢) – usually it was 100 (5¢). I was able to earn some money playing football. If you play for a certain team, and if you score, they give you 500 shillings, but if you don’t you just pack up your stuff and go home. After work, I would read my books at night, which was hard since we did not have electricity. Sometimes we would eat, but most of the time we couldn’t eat supper.
One time, one day, once in all my years, that I saw a white man entering our compound. I was really confused thinking that maybe he is just asking for directions to a certain place, but God had brought this man, who is turning into my father. Steve came to help us. He started paying my school fees. This man, known as the father, started an organization called L.E.A.D Uganda. I am happy because I am a member in it. These days I eat breakfast, lunch, and supper because of L.E.A.D Uganda. I am able to study photojournalism.
My dreams are coming true because of L.E.A.D Uganda.”
