Rahim Muyingo

Age 12

Gender Female

Grade Primary Level 3

District Bugiri

From his home visit 5/22/23:

"I am an orphan of 12 years old in primary three in ROWAN program from Mawanga zone. I have seven siblings and three relatives making a total of 12 members raised all together by my peasant and struggling mummy who  tirelessly work hard while working as a causal laborer on other people’s gardens, planting, sowing, and weeding crops for money to support us and ensure we live a better life but still life is so hard. Sometimes I am so stressed and while lonely I cry asking God why he took my daddy so early and I have never got an answer for this.  The house we sleep in leaks and about to clapse.  During the rainy and windy periods, we run to the neighbor’s   house and the nearby church for shelter in order to be protected from the nearby falling house walls and also in fear of losing our lives.

The little money my mother gets after working in people’s gardens is spent on buying some basic needs. Sometimes she fails to get us what to eat but when we have to live. I go school empty stomach. Being that am a child, I admire some of the school children who their families afford to get food and even are able to carry some money for upkeep for them, do not slumber in class while teachers teaching. But all my trust is in lord who made me and I keep comforting myself to be strong so that I can study hard for a successful future such that I can get a good job to support my family. Although some teachers at school don’t know the kind of life I go through thus they treat me the same mainly when they ask me many questions why I slumber in class of which am not open to them.

I usually find it challenging once they send me back home for school fees, I remain at school hiding in the corners and other old buildings in fear of missing school since my mother would delay getting money for fees looking for where which can work in the someone’s garden which is hard at particular moment and also from the little money she gets would use to buy food for us at home and other basic needs.

With this, I believe that the lord who began a good work in me will accomplish it. I ask you to continue praying for Gods’ favor and remain strong in Christ. May God bless Rowan

From MUYINGO RAHIM"