Norben Scholarship Students
Scovia received funding for her secondary school education up to Sr. 4 from the Norben Student Fund. She then attended CCP (Christian Children's Programs ) in Mbale and has now completed a Certificate Course in Child Care and is ready to find employment with a Day Care Program. When not in school Scovia lived in the village of Nabumali with her mother who remarried following the death of her first husband. The family has little income and there are several new children in the family. She thoroughly enjoyed her studies in child care and received good marks. The problem will be to find employment that will pay sufficient salary for her to support herself - it may be necessary for her to upgrade to a Diploma level.
Jonathan received funding from the Norben /student Fund for his Secondary School education up to Sr. 6 which he completed in December 2008. He has been accepted at the Christian University in Mbale and will take a course in Population Studies at a Diploma level beginning in September 2009. He has completed a 6 week Introductory Course in Computer Studies in May and June, 2009. With 2 other students he is involved in a mini Micro Financing Project introduced by the Fears in February, 2009. The boys have built a hen house with funds provided and will raise chickens in order to hopefully in time sell eggs, young chicks and hens to provide some money to pay for some of the expenses of further education. Jonathan lives at times with his widowed grandmother and helps her with chores around her house and small garden.
Davis is in his final year of Secondary School this year and hopefully will be successful writing the Grade 6 Government exams.in November. He has received funding for all of his Secondary School education and at times has had top marks in his classes.. Davis has had a difficult life. When he was younger the family lived in Jinja and his father had a good job. However when Davis was in his pre-teen years his father was killed, leaving the family with no income but with a house on the outskirts of a small village with a small plot of land. There were 4 younger children in the family and an older sister who had a great deal of difficulty adjusting to their changed circumstances. His mother is able to get occasional work in a day care centre but day to day life is a struggle. Davis is very concerned about the situation but realizes he needs to get an education in order to improve the family situation and help his younger siblings to get an education.
Lillian is the youngest student currently receiving funding from the Norben Student Fund. She is currently in Sr. 3 in a Secondary School in Mbale and is usually one of the top students in her class. Her home is on the outskirts of the village of Nabumali where she lives when not at school in Mbale. Her mother is widowed and tries hard to make a living for the family by growing vegetables and raising chickens. Lillian has an older brother who is finishing his final year in a degree course in Social Administration at an Islamic University in Mbale and younger siblings still in primary school. Their mother was able to attend school until in Sr. 3 in Secondary School and understands a fair amount of English which is a help to the children - few parents of our sponsored students are able to communicate in English, even though it is the official language of the country.
Mary and her grandmother who always comes to see us to tell us again how happy she is that Mary is getting an education. Mary was one of the first students to approach us for help with school expenses. In 2007 she completed Sr. 6 in Secondary School and is now enrolled in a Diploma Course in Catering and Hotel Management. Throughout her secondary school years Mary was a low average student, but persisted and managed to pass her Sr. 6 exams. She is now completing her first year of her diploma level course and to date has done very well. Mary's grandmother has a small plot of land in a rural area where she grows vegetables and raises chickens. She provides a home for several grandchildren whose parents have died.
This is a wall in one of the Secondary School in Mbale where one of our sponsored students attend. The schools all have a motto which they proudly display on their exterior walls.
Mama Nalonga's Holy Boys Hostel which several of our students have stayed while attending Secondary School in Mbale. It accommodates about 200 boys who sleep in double or triple decker beds, often as many as 15 to a room.
A room in Mama Nalonga's Hostel. Only the bed frames and coil springs are provided - students must provide their own mattresses, sheets, towels, wash basins, jerrycans to carry water for washing, dishes , soaps, etc. Students do their own washing and store their clothes and books in metal boxes under their beds. Students all wear uniforms and we are often amazed at the ability of the boys especially to keep their clothes clean and pressed. Even in their hot climate they are happy to wear their long sleeved shirts and ties in Sr. 5 and Sr. 6.