Uganda Village Project’s scholarship program gives orphans and children in need more than just financial support. As Beatrice Lamwak put it, “it is a light to write by and learn by, to read by and to tell their stories in its glow.” These are the stories of girls and boys who will one day be strong and hopeful Ugandans – those who will fulfill their dreams of nourishing the Pearl of Africa. The story of one young woman—Nangobi Stella—has just begun.
Earlier this week, Nangobi Stella learned that she had attained the highest points at her school, Iganga Parents High School, on her A-level exams, placing her among the leading students in the Iganga District. Stella is an excellent example of what UVP’s Orphan Support Program (OSP) can do – it identifies promising disadvantaged individuals from underserved communities and gives them the opportunity to become future leaders of Uganda.
Though Stella is a bright, bubbly, and optimistic individual, things have not come easy for Stella over the years.
Before she was 10, Stella’s parents divorced, and her father remarried. According to Ugandan tradition, children of divorced parents remain with the father. Unfortunately for Stella, her new step-mother disliked her and made her life extremely difficult. Stella then moved in with her mother, but she quickly faced a new set of challenges. Stella’s mother had little skills and was unable to generate enough income to meet Stella’s basic needs. Her mother would often leave Stella alone in the house with no food. Unable to pay rent, Stella was eventually evicted by her landlord, who took their belongings as back payment for rent; all of this occurred while Stella’s mother was away living with her new husband.
It was then that Stella’s neighbours decided to house her, where she was tossed from house to house until she was taken in by her father’s sister. All of this happened to Stella before the age of 10.
Stella’s solace was in school. With the Uganda’s Universal Primary Education Programme, she could afford to go to school. She joined a club called “Children’s Rights and Responsibilities,” where her peers appointed her the leader of the group. It was then that Stella developed her passion for law and education, and she knew she would grow up to defend children like herself who were treated unjustly and unfairly.
FIDA, who sponsored the clubs, noticed Stella’s talent. Together with ACCORD and UVP, FIDA offered Stella a scholarship to secondary school, which she would have otherwise not afforded. From then on, Stella completely took advantage of the path that lay in front of her.
We had the opportunity to conduct a brief interview with Stella.
UVP: Where does your inspiration come from?
Stella: First and foremost I am a Christian and my inspiration comes from God, I also admired other students who did well and saw what opportunities were presented to them and therefore I wanted to follow in that path, every time I excelled I also got additional bursaries which showed me that with hard work, doors could open.
UVP: What profession do you want to take up?
Stella: I want to be a lawyer. From a young age I saw FIDA fight for the rights of children, children like me, who are treated unfairly and cannot defend themselves’ I have also thought of journalism as well, as I can tell the stories of children like myself.
UVP would like to congratulate Nangobi Stella, UVP’s future Children’s Human Rights Lawyers. Stella, you have made us proud and will continue to shine!
We would like to thank our supporters and generous donors that have helped students like Stella get where she is today. To further support the Orphan Support Program, please visit http://www.ugandavillageproject.org/what-we-do/orphan-support/.
Caroline Nyuguto is the Assistant In-Country Director of UVP. She has worked in public health roles in Canada and Kenya and has an MPH from the University of Liverpool. Anthony Bui is the Marketing and Communication Chair of UVP. He currently works a strategy consultant in New York and Kenya.
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