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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As a kid growing up in the late 1990’s, I idolized my favorite athletes of the day. I cut out their pictures from the newspaper or Sports Illustrated for Kids and hung them on the walls of my bedroom. When I played baseball, I mimicked Derek Jeter’s batting stance. When
Ileana has been in our Nicaragua children’s program for the last eight years. Our team has poured into her heart, spirit, and education, and she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman of God. Her life hasn’t been easy, but as you’ll read in her letter, she has learned to
A special message from one of our sponsored children in Oaxaca, Mexico: Receive an affectionate greeting all of you. I would like to tell you a little bit about my life in Trigo y Miel Program. My name is Berenice Santiago Lugo. I have 5 siblings. Audre, Uriel, Joselyn, Dulce
7 yrs. old
Entered the program: September 2021
Rita lives with her mother and older siblings in a rented sheet metal house which they can barely afford, and sometimes can’t pay. They have a dirt floor and no electricity; they fetch water from a neighbor’s borehole to boil for drinking.
When Rita’s father passed away, his family made Rita’s mother and siblings leave their home. Her mother now works as a casual laborer to try and support her children. Rita suffers with a fungal infection that requires medical attention.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
