Dreams restores hope for education

Nakanwagi Sara (not real names) aged 24yrs from Kyabbuzza village in Lyantonde town is the sixth born child. Her mother was abandoned by the husband when Sara was about five years old and has labored to raise her children engaging in odd jobs like selling grasshoppers, operates a small bar, selling used clothes among others. In 2017, Sara completed S.5 at St. Gonzaga SSS pursuing Mathematics, Economics, Geography and ICT, but could not continue to S.6 due to lack of school fees.
In 2018, she was identified as a vulnerable adolescent girl who was at a high risk of not completing A-level. She was enrolled into DREAMS and consequently supported with educational subsidies (scholastic materials and school fees) for a full year. “What a year that was!!!! I completed S.6 in 2019 and passed with two principle passes. The year was full of smiles for me and my mother. I want to thank SSF-U for having made my dream come true” says Sara. She also received community-based HIV prevention interventions (Stepping stones) and parenting/SINOVUYO sessions. “The skills I attained have helped me overcome my temptations as a girl to remain safe especially on how to protect myself against acquiring HIV”, she narrates.

After completing A-level and during the COVID19 period, she stayed at home. She was then identified and mentored to become a peer DREAMS AGYW community facilitator for stepping stones in October 2021 and worked with DREAMS from November 2021 to May 2022.

“Through facilitating stepping stones, I was paid and have been able to save UGX 320,000= for the seven (7) months with an aim of joining university to pursue a degree in ICT. Out of the 320,000=, I was able to contribute UGX 120,000= towards school fees for my younger sister’s final term (ordinary level)”, Sara narrates.

Sara was offered a one-year contract job as the Administrative Assistant at the newly opened SSF-U DREAMS office in Rakai district. She hopes the opportunity will develop her career. She plans to enroll for ICT degree after saving enough money to cater for her tuition fees.

“You have to be determined, resilient and apply the skills you gain from DREAMS for your day to today life, as this will help you achieve your goals” Sara advices her fellow AGYW. Sara has a talent in singing and her dream is to become a famous artist after her education. She concludes by saying, “I want to appreciate SSF-U and RHSP for the DREAMS opportunity because this has made me a responsible AGYW who is a role model to my fellow AGYW.”