“My name is Micah*, and I am 10 years old. Before I came to Uganda I was living in Congo, I came here when I was 6 years old. I was living with my dad and my mom and my 7 siblings. I like having so many siblings. I am right in the middle and we get along!
The only thing I remember about Congo is the war. They are not so great memories. Our family was forced to come to Uganda. Some people did not understand, they would say that we were starving, that is why are running away, but really it was because of the war. It forced us to flee.
The [rebels] were coming and abducting people, they took them to the forest and killed them there. I remember this, it's very hard to have those memories.
We walked for 4 days to escape to Uganda. The journey was difficult, but when I arrived here, I felt relieved and that life would be better. My family, we work hard to get food. We dig and farm for other people and do casual labor to get money. Here in the refugee camp, I feel good. I like playing and fetching water and studying. I like playing football, I play with my friends.”
Micah is one of 43,000 children living in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement. For so many of them, education is their ticket to success. With Uganda’s high unemployment rate, and the perpetual cycle of poverty in refugee settlements, school was their only hope.
But then COVID happened. Educational institutes have been closed for the majority of the school year. There is no online school, no zoom classes, no laptops, tablets or computers. And for the foreseeable future, the hope of education remains aloft.
“I was going to school before Corona, I was in primary grade 4. The school was good, but Corona is bad, it has stopped us from getting an education. My family feels bad because all of us are at home and can't go to school. I don't like being at home because it means I miss out on getting an education. I want to be a doctor, but I need to first be able to go to school.
I went through the Heroes' program and just graduated, it was so good! I have learned that a hero believes, forgives and hopes. I know now that I have forgiveness inside if me. When you've wronged someone, you must go and ask for forgiveness. Recently, someone insulted me. I also wanted to forgive them, even though it is not easy.
I learned a lot from the story of Joseph. Joseph was hated by his brothers, they threw him into the pit, later they sold him, and they took him to Egypt where he was imprisoned. But from there he still became like a king. It gives me hope that we can still go on to do great things.
I would really love the teachers who teach us the Heroes Journey to come and see us again!”
Micah* (name changed to protect his identity) is one of 18 children who graduated from our first post-lockdown Heroes Journey program. He is also one of over half a million children who have been forcibly displaced, living in Uganda as refugees. For so many of these children, COVID-19 simply means uncertainty - uncertainty about schooling, about the future, and with rations cut drastically, uncertainty about food sources.
Coupled with the generalized fear that COVID has brought, and their experiences becoming refugees, this has been a very difficult time for too many children. Tutapona works to be a beacon of hope in these times. Our Heroes Journey continues to equip children like Micah* with the skills they need not only to survive but to thrive through adversity.
Would you consider partnering with Tutapona to keep this highly valuable program running amidst this pandemic? Click the donate button below to come along on this Heroes Journey.