Save a Life, Sponsor a Student!!!

Due to limited government-funded education, schools in Uganda are mostly private ones. Parents, who are fortunate enough to afford it, must pay fees in order for their children to attend school. Because of this, East African Education Initiative works to provide sponsorships to enable members of the Peace Africa Children's Ensemble, our counterpart in Uganda, to attend school. As you read the personal stories of our students, you will notice that their ages may not match their levels of education. The reasons are that education for them is sporatic because of a lack of money and because the educational structure in Uganda has "13 grades", seven primary and six secondary.

NAKAMYA NOWERINA NOEL NAKAMYA NOWERINA NOEL, a delightful 16-year-old, has lived at the Peace Africa Center for three years. Her home is close to the Center; she can see her mother and siblings whenever she is not studying, rehearsing and doing chores. She loves dancing with the Ensemble. She has many friends and wants to become "a famous journalist". Noel is serious about her faith. She says, "I have many thoughts about God. I know that God has done many things for me". In her leisure time, she enjoys studying music and "practices how to sing." She also enjoys reading books and is able to glean life lessons from them. Noel is an enchanting storyteller. Noel feels good about being Noel.

MATOVU EDRINE MATOVU EDRINE was very young when their parents died. He was sent to live with "auntie". After eighth grade, he came to live at the Peace Africa Center. Since arriving, he has developed a love for dancing and playing the tube fiddle. In his leisure time, he likes soccar, action videos and listening to music. His favorite foods are chicken and chips. Edrine says, "Education is important. I am very happy".

SSEMAGANDA GERALD SSEMAGANDA GERALD, Edrine's older brother, was separated from him when their parents died; he was forced to go to an orphanage. Because of his musical talents, he was able to move from the orphanage to the Peace Africa Center. We are proud to announce that, since arriving at Peace Africa, he has completed high school. Presently, Gerald hopes a sponsor will enable him to go to university to study accounting. He is currently working at the Center as the Rehearsal Assistant, directing and instructing our students there. He continues to sing, dance and play all of the instruments used in the Ensemble's performances. Gerald's fondest hope is to pass down the gift of music as it was given to him by his mentor Kibirige Ronald.

SSESAMIREMBE ASTETONA SSESAMIREMBE ASTETONA ("Aste") is a 24-year-old man from the Rakai District of Uganda. His father has four wives and eighteen children; therefore, he cannot send them all to school. His parents are alive and well in their village. He came to school in Kampala in 2000. While there, the director recommended him to Kibirge Ronald because of his musical talents. He came to the Peace Africa Center in 2007 and graduated from high school in 2009. He continues to live at the Center, helping to "run everything from day-to-day". He is one of the best dancers in the Ensemble and his favorite instrument is the tube fiddle. He enjoys writing his thoughts and plans, and loves reading. Aste aspires to be both a preacher and a lawyer. He desires sponsorship so he can become a lawyer. Aste feels that his income as a lawyer will enable him to be a preacher. In Uganda, most preachers are not paid salaries. Aste says, "I love God and love to do public speaking, and I do so love to where the [business] suit". On Sunday mornings, Aste leads a worship service for our family at the Peace Africa Center.

MUWANIKA JOEL MUWANIKA JOEL came to the Peace Africa Center from the village of Kagumba in 2009. His mother died when he was four-years-old. After which, he lived with this father ("taata"). A friend of Kibirige Ronald told him about Joel, his needs and his talents. Joel is now a 15-year-old young man who hopes to become a pilot. Joel say, "the only thing I want in my life is to be a pilot just because I see it up there". At the Center, he loves playing instument and singing with the Ensemble. Sponsorship will enable Joel to continue living at the center and further his education.

MUJIMULA JEROSA MUJIMULA JEROSA was born Rakai District where his parents still live. In 2008, Kibirige Ronald "found me and I came to Peace Africa". Jerosa says, "I work to improve always my studying and my life in music. In the future, I want to try the violin and be a musician. I love Peace Africa more and more because I want to reach my target (goals)".

FUUKO ROGERS FUUKO ROGERS says, "I am so happy to have come to Peace Africa. I have living parents, two sisters and one brother. It is okay to visit my village of Makuutu but I like to return to Peace Africa". Rogers is a 14-year-old young gentleman, who likes dancing with the Ensemble; the tube fiddle is his favorite instrument. Rogers has a great sense of humor; he is the clown of the family. He loves soccer, rice, candy and sugar cane. Rogers hopes for sponsorship so that he can become a music teacher.

MULINDWA SHAKIRAH MULINDWA SHAKIRAH was born in Masaka. At the age of 6, her mother died. She lived with her father of whom she says, "He used to care about me but he remarried and now ignores me". Shakirah has seven sisters and one brother. At the age eleven, she lived for a while with an older sister in Kampala. Later, she lived with an aunt and while living with her, had no schooling. Eventually, her sister got her to the Peace Africa Center because of her extraordinary musical talents. Shakirah is a lovely young woman with a soft voice who has had a longing for a mother in her life. She has an endearing love for her older sister, who now has given a home to their younger sister. Shakirah says, "Everything is disorganized in that home and I feel bad for them. I hope to someday be able to help them". Shakirah wants to become a musician or a journalist. Sponsorship can make furthering her education possible. Shakirah says, "I feel good at Peace Africa. I now have a home".

KAJOJO BORGIA KAJOJO BORGIA left his village of Kiragga at the age of thirteen. He came to Kampala and lived with his sister because "my family had no fees for my education". He was able to return to school in 2009 when he arrived at the Peace Africa Center. Borgia likes singing with Ensemble. In his free time, he enjoys playing the tube fiddle and the drums. His favorite foods are chicken and rice and he says, "I like to eat breakfast". He also likes doing his own laundry. Borgia likes to help orphans. He hopes for sponsorship so he can become a pilot. He says, it is "good transport."

KASUJJA THOMAS KASUJJA THOMAS' life story has not been a happy one. Thomas, a 20-year-old high school student has been struggling for fees to continue his education. Because he has five brothers and five sisters, money was limited; therefore, his education was sporatic. But in spite of this, he fervently desires to further his education. His parents divorced, after which he continued to live in the village of Kaligwa with his father. Later, his father remarried, and as is often the case, new wives do not accept the children of former wives. Thomas' mother, possibly an outcast because of the divorce, went away when he was nine-years-old. In 2004, Thomas came to Kampala and resumed school with the help of his uncle, Kibirige Ronald. He later came to live at the Peace Africa Center. Happiness came to him through his life there. He loves being a part of the family and he loves dancing with the Ensemble. Thomas is a sensitive and loving young man. He says, "my best moment is when I feel loved. My mother left me; I don't know where she is or if she is alright. I don't know if I will ever see her again". Thomas hopes for sponsorship so he can study music in university. He hopes to become a producer, working with children in school. He is learning to turn the sadness of his past into a constructive future of service for other children.

KATO PETER KATO PETER is Waswa Patrick's twin brother. Peter struggled, just like his brother, since his father died in 2000. When he joined the Peace Africa Children's Ensemble in 2005, he was able to resume his studies and now wants to continue into the advanced levels. His favorite subjects are geography and mathematics. Peter wants to become a professional musician after he completes his education. Currently, he likes playing the xylophone and the big drums. He also likes to read and listen to slow music. Peter says, "Peace Africa is my home. I love socializing with other people. We are here like brothers and sisters cooperating".

This is how you can make a difference!

Sponsors may be individuals or groups. Monthly sponsorship contribution amounts are set based on the individual needs of the student and range from $100 for a primary school student to $300 for a university or vocational school student. These amounts are subject to change in order to cover annual increases in school fees and supplies, daily necessities and basic medical care. For more information about sponsorship, or if you are ready to sponsor a student now, please contact us at: sponsor@eastafricaneducationinitiative.org.