Investing in the future

When he was just a little boy, his father, the family’s sole bread winner, contracted AIDS and died, but thanks to Kamwokya Christian Caring Community (KCCC), Hassan can dream of a brighter future.

While his father was bedridden, Hasan and some of his brothers and sisters had to drop out of school because they could not afford the fees.His mother tried to make ends meet selling maize at Kamowokya Market but the little she earned could only provide her family with one meal a day. They lived from hand to mouth and were unable to save for the future.

In 2001, Hasan’s mother came to KCCC, a charity funded by SCIAF, which works with poor communities in Kampala slums providing education, support and treatment for families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Hasan was given a place at the KCCC school and was a promising pupil but he had missed out on a large chunk of his education and struggled to catch up with his classmates. He found it difficult to concentrate during lessons and often had to skip classes in order to help his mother sell food at her market stall.

KCCC through their education sponsorship programme were able to send Hasan to boarding school at Kampala Hill Academy giving him more time to dedicate to schoolwork. He improved so rapidly that, when he sat end of year exams in 2007, his results were among the best in the country.

Hasan is now studying at Nile High School and, thanks to KCCC and SCIAF, is looking forward to a brighter future.

He said: “I want to work hard and become a doctor so that I can give something back to the project which has done so much for me. I am so grateful to KCCC for helping me to realise my potential and continuing to support me so that I can realise my dream. This is a new beginning for me and my family.”

Hasan’s mother is delighted with her son’s progress.

She added: “I want to thank KCCC and SCIAF for restoring hope in my family. I could not have provided Hasan with an education without their help. I pray that the Lord blesses them and allows them to continue spreading this kindness.”