I am 21 years old* coming from the Amuria district, in a place called Kapelebyong County and specifically residing in a village called Otungul in an Internally Displaced (IDP) Camp Teso sub region in eastern Uganda where I have lived most of my life.
Before Pilgrim came in to support children in IDP camps to acquire education, I was living a life of no dreams under very undesirable conditions for anybody. My life was summed up in what I could call hopeless.
Insecurity was the order of our lives in my village; we lived in fear all the time. I came to live in a camp at a very young age I can't even recall much of what a normal village life is like. Cattle rustlers, known as the Karimojong constantly raided, robbed, killed, raped and burned homes, and even abducted some people like boys or girls. That is how my family was forced to live in an IDP camp along with many other families. Camp life is what I have known for most of my life and conditions there are not good, but because I grew up in a camp, I only saw how bad my condition was after coming out of the camp to study in Beacon of Hope School.
The situation of insecurity was far worsened after the LRA rebels invaded and attacked Teso region. This erased all hope of life and it was as if there would never be hope for us ever. Many times I asked God why us, but there was no answer. Many girls and boys suffered beating, walking long distances carrying heavy loot, with hardly any food to eat and ultimately death. Many lost parents, sisters, brothers, children and relatives during this period of attack. During one of the attacks my own brother was abducted, as usual our parents had told us to go in the bush and hide from the rebels since they were more interested in children. A big group of us had taken cover in the bush after rebels had been cited in the village. I hid with my little brothers and sisters plus some neighbors children. I was the oldest. After waiting a long time we thought the rebels had gone so some of the children rose to go only to be showered with bullets and so many scattered and were abducted including my nephew. I remained down with some children, holding them tight and praying that God covers us from the rebels. Indeed He did and the rebels passed us few meters away. Two of the children I was with had been badly wounded by bullets. We waited until late in the evening when our parents came calling us to go back home. One of the wounded boys survived while one died later in a health centre due to lack of proper medical attention. Also people who died are those who gave their lives bravely to fight back the rebels. Rape and killing was the order of life for girls. The fact that I survived all this tells me I still mean something in the eyes of God Almighty. Food, staying alive was more pressing needs than school, as many of us had to forget school for a while. When I sat for senior four, it was a miracle that only God could perform as my parents could no longer send me to school, they are very old.
On top of that Iam an asthmatic case. While getting food was a big challenge, getting medical help was always a miracle. My old parents could not afford to pay for drugs and this pulled me behind a lot in terms of academics, and I wanted school desperately. This was even worsened with the camp environment I was in all the congestion was intensifying my deteriorating health conditions, I was surely miserable. I was always thinking that I would die young and never realize my dreams.
When I came to school under Pilgrim, there was a sense of hope and security for me. I did not have to constantly worry about getting raped or abducted, sleeping hungry or even people disturbing me about marriage at a young age. I had a chance to be at school and pursue my dreams. Now I am somehow exposed to how other youth live, think and this has helped me widen my world and mature me such that I don't have to think just around my camp but far beyond my eyes can see. Am so thankful to Pilgrim for this very precious opportunity they have given me.
I have been exposed to the use of basics like sanitary pads, using my own bed sheets, mattress and above all, being surrounded by people who show me that they care.
Pilgrim has picked me from dust where I had no hope for a future and brought me back to school where am in a favorable environment for pursuing dreams. I get enough food, my basic needs (medical, shelter, psychosocial care etc) are met. I look at all these with gratitude and I call Pilgrim the "Promised Land".
While at school however, I still have challenges that are disturbing. When we came in 2006 to join Beacon of Hope School, we were given a pair of bed sheets, a blanket, school uniform, mattress, books, transport from home and back home, to name but a few. However, some of the things such as bed sheets and towel are worn out and need replacement. The school requires us to replenish them ourselves but most of us are not yet in position to. That is a big challenge for me and worries me a lot
Other than that, I feel honored to be a beneficiary of Pilgrim. I count myself lucky because among the many, I am among the few who are benefiting from their services. My performance in S.6 was not good, but I managed to come back to re-sit the exam. Thank you for all your services and for touching many lives, whom I am glad to say I am only one of the many! But out there; there are still many who need help and wish to be where I am.
Thank you dear donors for making all of this possible, many blessings from heaven to each of your doors.
*Personal names have been removed to protect the identity of the students.
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