Stories

Sandra from Okworo-Okworo in Lira City East last attended school in primary two (P 2 class) at Akia primary school in 2017 due to poverty since her family couldn't raise even the few school requiements considering they were many children at home. She is the fifth born out of seven siblings of her mother plus many from her father.

Kevin (16) from Lira dropped out of school after completing PLE in 2019. She was not able to join Senior One in 2020 because of her poor family could not afford the fees and other requirements.

This was worsened by the COVID_19 pandemic which crippled even the small earnings her fa mily could afford - causing skipping meals at home due to scarcity of food.

"I became hopeless at home realizing that my entire dream f becoming a professional teacher heard been halted", Kevin explains. "I was then influenced by my peers to join the street and start hawking local bread in Lira city", she adds.

While on the street, Kevin came into contact with CRO social workers who interviewed her and encouraged her to visit the center - to which she obliged. At the drop center, she started receiving counselling and in 2021 was enrolled on the vocational skills training program under tailoring and garment cutting.

Kevin says, "Now I have gained a lot of skill in tailoring and garment cutting and my trainers say that am progressing well. With the skill i have gained, I am able to make various types of fashions of clothes'.

"I am very happy that my life has completely changed from a hopeless child into a skillful person with ability and potential to earn and also help other people in my community. My advice to fellow children is that they should concentrate on what they are doing if they get such opportunities in order to achieve their goals.  Thank you CRO for the continued support to the hopeless like me and our families.", she adds.

Like Kevin, many children who have turned to streets because of hopelessness have been rescued, rehabilitated and empowered by CRO-Uganda. These have been able to discover their identity and potential hence becoming productive and responsible citizens in their communities and Uganda at large.

We invite you to join us in helping change lives.

Kevin (16) from LIra dropped out of school after completing PLE in 2019. She was not able to join Senior One in 2020 because of her poor family could not afford the fees and other requirements.