Another back-to back Youth Feature

Due to our temporary hiatus from our blog we are trying to catch up on posting more on the youth in the area. This was a very special interview for me as it was open and I did little of the talking. This girl is really special (I know I say this about everyone), and I spend quite a bit of time with her outside of school. We do a bit of reading and writing, but I mainly listen to what's on her mind. My next step is making sure she is not made to feel inferior by certain males living near her in Kampala. This is an issue I am constantly trying to address, as the future for many girls following Primary School graduation is not always the most promising. Since many of the girls are refugees the possibility of obtaining school fees (which are greatly reduced at HOPE) for Secondary School is quite slim. Hearing stories of older males taking advantage of young girls and promising a secure life leads to many single mothers, prostitution, and even female trafficking. It takes leaders in schools like HOPE to show other young females that there are other choices to consider. To take a line from HOPE School, “Hope never fails.”

Name: Deborah Baunda
Age: 12
Grade: P6
Nationality: Congolese

Where were you born in the Congo and what do you remember about home?
DB: I was born in Bukavu and we moved to Uganda in 2006, I forget the month…
What I remember about Congo is wars. One time soldiers came to my house and they wanted to kill my father and wanted money. I was sitting in the sleeping room and was kept very quiet. They started trying to kick open the door and screamed, “If you don’t open we will kill you.” They left when they couldn’t get in the door. I remember when they took my older brother, but he came back.

Why did they take your brother? Is that why you came to Uganda?
DB: They took many boys in the village. They make them carry luggage for them. We came to Uganda because my mother got money stolen, and my mother was demanded for more money that she did not have anymore. She paid a little, but then was pressured so much that she thought she might die. We came here because of all that pressure.

How many are in your family? Did all of you come to Uganda together?
DB: We are ten. Eight children and mother and father. We all came to Uganda and live near Kampala. I don’t like Uganda so much, because father doesn’t have a house. Our mother works for a man who gives her money to sell clothes and its not enough for rent. My father is a tailor and makes clothes. My brothers and sisters don’t work yet.

Where would you like to live then?
DB: I would like to be in places outside of Uganda, like Canada, Unites States or Australia.

Did you ever find it hard to live in Uganda with different people than you weren’t used to in the Congo?
DB: Yes, at home (near Kampala) they don’t like Congolese. For example, the landlord says we are too many and don’t pay rent. At school I have never had a problem with Ugandans not liking me. I only have problems of lacking the requirements for HOPE. Requirements like school uniform, books, food, transportation because we have to walk far if we don’t have 300 UGS for a taxi. My best friends at school are many. But I like the teachers the most. I used to live with Teacher Winnie when she was at HOPE, she was my best friend, and I like Teacher Ronnie and Teacher Annett.

What do you want to do after graduating from HOPE?
DB: I’d like to study at University. I want to be a secretary or a doctor. Even football, but it is difficult for girls in Uganda. But in America I could play.

I think you would be a great doctor! But you are very good at football, probably the best at HOPE…how did you learn to play so well?
DB: I started playing football in P3 at HOPE. I was trained by some mzungus… Teacher James, Ben, Chris and Martino.

What is a normal day for you like?
DB: First, I read books, then I play games like football and netball.

Favorites: Music group/singer, food, football team?
DB: Weezer, chips, Manchester United

You like Weezer?!? How do you know about Weezer they are one of my favorites too!!? (I give her my iPod to listen to a song)
DB: No, no. I like the Ugandan singer Weazer. This music is not the same.
(This took about ten minutes to establish that we were talking about two different Weezers/Weazers)

Who do you think will win the World Cup?
DB: Manchester United

That is a club team! Only countries play in the World Cup.
DB: Oh! Well they would win if they were in World Cup. I will choose Brazil.

Youth Feature of the Week

What I find endlessly fascinating is how multi-ethnic and multi-cultural students at HOPE School are. It is more common to see a combination of Congolese and Ugandan, Kenyan and Ugandan or ____ and Ugandan, but after chatting with one of the most reserved students during break time I discovered he came from a Congolese and Rwandese household. After talking more at length it became apparent his parent’s respective countries and cultures weren’t an active part of his own identity. This could be a personal decision, or he’s simply acting as a typical teenager does and trying to define himself on his own terms. But reading in between the lines of our conversation, it could be a purposeful diversion prompted by his father due to their reasons for fleeing Rwanda. Either way, I really enjoyed his interview and perspective. I truly believe that one-on-one engagement such as this really increases self-efficacy and emphasizes value in youth’s personal outlook and opinion. After all, it will be these children that impact this community, and how they see themselves in it plays a vital role. Enjoy meeting Ronnie!

Name: Ronald Ngabo “Ronnie”
Grade: P7
Age: 15
Nationality: Rwandese

When did you move to Uganda Ronnie?
RN: We moved here in 2005. We were five. My mother died when we came to Uganda because she was very sick. I have three brothers and I am the fourth. We lived in Kampala first then moved to the Wakiso District.

What do you remember about Rwanda? You can tell me about good memories or bad memories.
RN: The good things…Rwanda…My sister is there and other relations. My sister is 27 and stayed because she is married. But some people didn’t like others at my home in Rwanda and were trying to imprison many people for the genocide. We left because things were bad like that. That is why Rwandese are here (in Uganda) or in other countries now.

That is pretty neat your parents come from two different countries. When or why did your father move to Rwanda? Have you been able to visit your father’s home in the Congo?
RN: My father moved from Congo to Rwanda because of his job as a mechanic. I don’t know when he moved there. I went to visit Congo in 2001 to see my father’s family in Goma once. It was nice.

Are you happy you live in Uganda now?
RN: Yes, I like living in Uganda. I like Uganda because there is freedom.

What is the hardest problem you have ever faced and how did you overcome it?
RN: My father can’t manage to buy us clothes or shoes so me and my brothers work to get money for him. He doesn’t work, but sometimes he gets some jobs. So when we don’t have money we help laborers build houses like the ones you see around here. They pay us 5,000 UGS for a day (approximately $2.50).

Thanks for sharing that Ronnie. What do you like most about HOPE Primary School?
RN: I like the teaching and the sports.

What do you want to do after you graduate from HOPE?
RN: I don’t know what I want to do…I like football and singing.

I remember you saying you liked singing. I still need to hear your skills! Who is your favorite singer, food and football team?
RN: Chameleon (Ugandan rapper), rice and meat, Manchester United

Who do you think will win the World Cup?
RN: England

Ronnie, they are in USA’s bracket… are you trying to suggest USA won’t do well?!
RN: [whips out a huge smile]

Is there anything you want to say to people around the world reading this?
RN: Tell them I love all people in the world.