My name is Maria and I am 9. I am excited to turn 10 years old because I am growing up. I was born here, in Uganda, and I don’t know where my family came from before we lived here. I live with my mother and father and my 7 brothers and sisters. I am the fourth born. 

When I grow up, I don’t want to be here in this refugee camp. I want to go to university to be a doctor to look after people. 

I am in third grade, but I miss school because of Coronavirus. Here [in the refugee settlements in Uganda] we have to stay at home. I miss school but I don’t mind being at home. It’s better than being around large groups of people, so I just stay home and do house chores like washing dishes. And I like doing that. Corona is a disease and people fear it here. When I think of Corona, I feel scared, but the Heroes Journey has helped me, the program is very good. My teachers were so good!

In the Heroes Journey program I have learned about kindness; not just being kind to others, but also being kind to myself. When I speak to other children now, I want to tell them to have faith and hope, and to believe for good. I have learned that when someone does something wrong to me, I can forgive them, even when they have not asked for forgiveness. And, my favorite part of the program is the Heroes' song. I love singing, and this program helps us to have faith and believe. 

The lyrics to the Heroes Journey song are:

I am a hero, I am hero,
I am a hero, focused to the future.
Nothing will stop me, I am a hero,
I am a hero, focused to the future.
I have Hope, I will make it,
I have Faith, I will make it,
Kindness the key path, I will make it,
Thankful the key path, I will make it,
Courage my pathway, I will make it,
I am a HERO!”

• Maria, Uganda