Patrick’s life was tough from the very beginning. His father died of sickness when he was only two years old. In order to earn money to feed her children, Patrick’s mother would work long hours cooking food for people in large workplaces, such as the police station. At some point, it appears that Patrick’s mother could no longer support her family adequately. When this happens in Uganda, one or more children are often sent to live with relatives who can better provide them with food and shelter. Thus, when he was still very young, Patrick went to live with his aunt in the town of Mbale on the eastern side of Uganda. Patrick’s mother moved to Kampala to find better opportunities for work. Patrick’s only sibling, his sister, remained with their mother. Consequently, Patrick has had to grow up separated from his two closest family members.
Although Patrick’s aunt was herself a widow with two small sons, she was able to bring in a steady income with her job as a policewoman. She could provide Patrick and her own sons with all the basic necessities plus providing some money for their education. When he turned 6 years old, Patrick began his studies in the town of Mbale. However, as a policewoman, Patrick’s aunt was transferred every few years to a new town. Consequently, Patrick and his cousins studied from several different schools during their primary years. After Patrick completed P.5, money became even scarcer for his family. Because his mother could not afford to pay his school fees and his aunt only had enough to pay for her own sons, Patrick sat at home while his younger cousins continued their studies. He missed three years of school. When his aunt was transferred back to Masaka Town, it was then that the family heard of a new group – Children of Hope - enrolling students at Masaka Baptist Church. Both Patrick and his youngest cousin, Juma, were enrolled into Children of Hope in 2005. However, since he had missed so much school, Patrick, who was then 14 years old, returned to study in P.5. His cousin, Juma, who is four years younger, was also beginning P.5 that year. But Patrick was not discouraged by his age or his long absence from school. Rather, the renewed and unexpected opportunity to continue his studies seemed to energize him. He studied hard and excelled. Every year, he was one of the top students in his class.
His excellence, however, has also brought him some unanticipated and uninvited trouble. Patrick has been in the same class as his cousin Juma for three years now. Although Juma is also a very bright boy who performs well, Patrick continues to outshine him in school. According to Patrick, his is aunt is not happy that her son is second-place to her nephew. Patrick and Juma both get along fairly well with each other. Patrick says that he even will give Juma brotherly advice when he is about to make a poor decision. However, despite all his efforts at peace, Patrick feels that his aunt resents him for his achievements. She pressures Juma to perform better than Patrick. Patrick discloses to me that she stirs up animosity among other family and clan members towards him. And worst of all, it seems to Patrick that she sometimes unloads her frustration on his mother. Although Patrick’s aunt provides him with food and a place to live, she still demands additional support from his mother, who can hardly make ends meet with the little money she earns cooking and selling food in Kampala. Patrick’s aunt often berates and criticizes his mother for her inability to provide enough money for Patrick’s care and education. Patrick clearly does not appreciate the way that his aunt treats his mother. However, it is a situation that must be endured if Patrick is to complete his education for he has no where else to go. Though his aunt’s conduct visibly bothers him, Patrick’s attitude seems to be that the good things in his life – going to school, being part of the project, having good friends – far outweigh the troubles. His outlook remains positive.
This year, Patrick will be one of the first students from Hope Alive!’s Masaka site to begin secondary school. He passed the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) last year with marks that put him in the second division – a very good score. Patrick loves to read, however the only books he has to read in his free time are school books. His favorite subject in school is math because he hopes to one day become “an engineer that designs and builds houses” – an architect. In his free time, he also likes to listen to music. Patrick does not play sports like most other young men his age because asthma leaves him short of breath. Consequently, he devotes much of his free time to his studies. Patrick believes that if he can just complete his education, and perhaps even attend the university, then his life will be good. His dream is to one day own property in Masaka. He, his mother, and his sister have no home to call their own. He wants to buy land and build a home for his family. Such a dream fits with his humble and unselfish character.
Patrick still has a long road ahead of him - six years of secondary school and then possibly university – however, he has the determination, the drive, and the dedication to realize his lofty dreams. Perhaps one day in the future, he will be designing elaborate buildings in Kampala… and a beautiful home for his family in Masaka.
Although Patrick’s aunt was herself a widow with two small sons, she was able to bring in a steady income with her job as a policewoman. She could provide Patrick and her own sons with all the basic necessities plus providing some money for their education. When he turned 6 years old, Patrick began his studies in the town of Mbale. However, as a policewoman, Patrick’s aunt was transferred every few years to a new town. Consequently, Patrick and his cousins studied from several different schools during their primary years. After Patrick completed P.5, money became even scarcer for his family. Because his mother could not afford to pay his school fees and his aunt only had enough to pay for her own sons, Patrick sat at home while his younger cousins continued their studies. He missed three years of school. When his aunt was transferred back to Masaka Town, it was then that the family heard of a new group – Children of Hope - enrolling students at Masaka Baptist Church. Both Patrick and his youngest cousin, Juma, were enrolled into Children of Hope in 2005. However, since he had missed so much school, Patrick, who was then 14 years old, returned to study in P.5. His cousin, Juma, who is four years younger, was also beginning P.5 that year. But Patrick was not discouraged by his age or his long absence from school. Rather, the renewed and unexpected opportunity to continue his studies seemed to energize him. He studied hard and excelled. Every year, he was one of the top students in his class.
His excellence, however, has also brought him some unanticipated and uninvited trouble. Patrick has been in the same class as his cousin Juma for three years now. Although Juma is also a very bright boy who performs well, Patrick continues to outshine him in school. According to Patrick, his is aunt is not happy that her son is second-place to her nephew. Patrick and Juma both get along fairly well with each other. Patrick says that he even will give Juma brotherly advice when he is about to make a poor decision. However, despite all his efforts at peace, Patrick feels that his aunt resents him for his achievements. She pressures Juma to perform better than Patrick. Patrick discloses to me that she stirs up animosity among other family and clan members towards him. And worst of all, it seems to Patrick that she sometimes unloads her frustration on his mother. Although Patrick’s aunt provides him with food and a place to live, she still demands additional support from his mother, who can hardly make ends meet with the little money she earns cooking and selling food in Kampala. Patrick’s aunt often berates and criticizes his mother for her inability to provide enough money for Patrick’s care and education. Patrick clearly does not appreciate the way that his aunt treats his mother. However, it is a situation that must be endured if Patrick is to complete his education for he has no where else to go. Though his aunt’s conduct visibly bothers him, Patrick’s attitude seems to be that the good things in his life – going to school, being part of the project, having good friends – far outweigh the troubles. His outlook remains positive.
This year, Patrick will be one of the first students from Hope Alive!’s Masaka site to begin secondary school. He passed the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) last year with marks that put him in the second division – a very good score. Patrick loves to read, however the only books he has to read in his free time are school books. His favorite subject in school is math because he hopes to one day become “an engineer that designs and builds houses” – an architect. In his free time, he also likes to listen to music. Patrick does not play sports like most other young men his age because asthma leaves him short of breath. Consequently, he devotes much of his free time to his studies. Patrick believes that if he can just complete his education, and perhaps even attend the university, then his life will be good. His dream is to one day own property in Masaka. He, his mother, and his sister have no home to call their own. He wants to buy land and build a home for his family. Such a dream fits with his humble and unselfish character.Patrick still has a long road ahead of him - six years of secondary school and then possibly university – however, he has the determination, the drive, and the dedication to realize his lofty dreams. Perhaps one day in the future, he will be designing elaborate buildings in Kampala… and a beautiful home for his family in Masaka.
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