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...

My name is Fred. I am  the second born of five children (four boys and one girl). We have grown up with our paternal grandmother in Namatala slum, Mbale City.

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.

Ayao Oliver aged 17 years old hails from Apac districtand is the second born in her family. Since her childhood,she dream tof becoming a successful lady in life but all this  faded at the point when her father passed onwhileshe was in primaryfour (4).  As their mother tried to fend for their survival, she(mother) moved with them to Lira town and started selling cassava (chips) to at least get some money for food and family upkeep. Oliver laments,” Young as I was,I dropped out of school in P.4 and started supporting mymother with hawking chips in town.” “But one early morning as I was moving on the street withmy chips, some two people asked me “why am not in school?”,as they were buying my chips. After telling them my story,they got so concerned and asked me if I could follow them totheir office at CRO Lira.  I hesitated thinking that they are kidnappers. Little did I know that...

Brian(16) dropped out school in primary four(4) in 2018. In 2018, he joined the streets of Lira town after the separation of his parents that left him and his siblings with their grandmother and uncle.