Escaping the Slum to Pursue God’s Purpose: Job’s Story

The past two years have been particularly hard for children in Uganda. Schools remained shut through most of the pandemic. Light a Candle, our program there, worked tirelessly to help these children succeed in their education despite the seemingly impossible situation. Despite school closures, children have remained committed to pursuing education however they can, and several have successfully passed exams to proceed to the next grade. In 2021, three of our students graduated high school and are now preparing for college!

One of these graduates is Job. Job grew up in the slums of Kampala, where his life was defined by extreme hunger, domestic violence, and no opportunity to go to school. As the oldest child in his family, he was stripped of any chance to enjoy a healthy childhood. 

“I was seeing other children going to school while I was left home to look after my younger siblings and there was never any sign of me ever going to school,” he said. Job all but gave up on the idea that he could have a purpose beyond just surviving. The violence in Job’s home got so bad that at one point, he decided the only option he had was to run away.

It was then that our program found him and was able to provide tuition so he could go to school, “I was able to finish school without ever worrying of being sent home for [lack of] fees.”

Job is now on his way to fulfilling his dream of going to nursing school. He is the first person in his family, and his entire community, to ever go to college. His dream is to “use my nursing skills to impact lives and be a ray of hope to my family and community.”

Job is a trailblazer. Through faith, and help from Forward Edge, he’s traversing completely new territory into a college education and a career in helping others. We can’t wait to see all God does in and through him in the years to come!

This story was shared in our 2021 Annual Report. You can view our full report here >>

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Transform a Child's Life Through Sponsorship

Gyebaleki (hello), my name is Precious Shantel

  • location

    Uganda

  • 14 yrs. old

    12-13-2010

Entered the program: March 2025

Precious lives with her aunt, siblings, and several cousins in a three-bedroom bungalow-style house made of plastered burnt bricks, a cement floor and a veranda. They have no electricity, and light is provided by a 3-bulb solar unit with a phone charger. They cook outdoors with firewood in a well-built kitchen and also have a private well-constructed outdoor toilet facility. Water is collected from a communal borehole which is boiled to drink.


Sponsorship Level What's this?

Three $38 sponsorships are needed to cover the complete holistic care of one child. Cover one, two, or three sponsorships.