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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11 yrs. old
Entered the Program: February 2025
Iris lives with her parents, 7 siblings and her sister-in-law in a six-room adobe house with a tin roof and concrete and dirt floors. With so many inhabitants, the house is not maintained well. The property is large and has a separate kitchen, outside bathroom, and patio. The family cooks with wood and has access to water from a hose on the property.
Iris’s mother cares for the home and her father works in construction; they both also work farming the fields. Iris’s mother went to church years ago, but doesn’t anymore; she is not in favor of Iris attending the Saturday Bible Club, but Iris’s dad encourages her to go.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
