Humans of Nyaka

I really enjoy art. I hope when someone is describing me, they mention me as an artist first and foremost. When you are making art, it is as if you are creating real things — you’re bringing things to life. Let’s say, someone asks you to draw a portrait of them. You take your paper and pen and make something that looks just like them. I also love art because it gives me the opportunity to give back to my community. When you create something meaningful, you’re helping inspire your friends and family.

I love teaching because as I teach, I create many friends. I feel so much joy when I see the product of my work. When the students I teach succeed and have bright futures, I feel extremely proud. I started teaching in 1976 and have seen many students go on to secondary school and university. I even taught our director, Dr. Twesigye Jackson Kaguri! God favored me a lot. Naturally, I am a counselor and I’ve been lucky that the children loved me very much.

Both of my parents are police officers. My grandfather was also a police officer, so I felt that this was my rightful place. Having been a son to a police woman and police man, I have been familiar with the system for more than thirty years. I love my position and that it allows me to champion the rights of children.

Before I joined the police force I was working for Save the Children and World Vision, on child related projects. At Save the Children I helped parents whose daughters had been kidnapped by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). So they came together to talk and negotiate with the LRA, to ensure that the children could be released – and we succeeded.

I make matooke every day. It’s very sweet and easy to make. I could eat it for every meal for an entire week and not feel sick — you can’t do that with rice or potatoes. Ugandans love matooke because we use every part of the banana plant. We use the leaves as a clean surface to prepare other foods; some people even use the banana fibers to create roofing for their homes. The leaves and husks are used to feed animals like cows and goats and children can use the fibers to make homemade footballs. We prepare matooke for ourselves, but we can also sell it to bring in extra money. It’s my favorite and I think it’s the favorite food among most Ugandans — because of all the good it does.

My son’s name is Bliar, He’s nine now. I had him when I was only fourteen years old and still in school. I have raised him all by myself which was extremely challenging. As his father is not in the picture, I am still at home with my brothers. I’m the youngest and am very close to them. They don’t have children of their own, but they help care for Bliar.

I’ve been working for the Nyaka guest house for three years. I love my job and meeting the people that come to stay with us. Having this job is a huge blessing, and I am so proud to be able to support myself and my family. While I enjoy working here, I ultimately would like to open my own shop and be my own boss.

Education breaks barriers of poverty. My mother and father raised five of us but they struggled because they had no money to send us to school. My father would buy one pencil and break it into five, so each of us could have a piece. Because I had a fifth of the pencil, I ended up at Columbia University. That’s what opened my eyes. I knew what my obstacles were as a child that prevented me from getting an education. 

So, in 2001 I used $5,000 meant for a house and a two room school. Nyaka has since built two primary schools and a vocational school. Orphaned children don’t have money to pay for school so we made it free. Our children get uniforms, pencils, and pens. And their pencils have erasers. I never had an eraser. 

The Grandmothers’ program was started in 2006. We asked grandmothers to house students. These children have gone through traumatic experiences. We want somebody in the house who they can go to when they’re scared. So today we have 15,000 grandmothers taking care of 80,000 grandchildren*. Nyaka has taken all of those barriers and broken them down so our children can succeed.

Jonan is a seven-year-old nursery student at Kutamba Primary school. Jonan and his four siblings live with his grandmother in Kyamurekye village. Before joining Kutamba, Jonan attended Bikongozo Primary school, but after losing his mother, who was the breadwinner for the family, he could no longer afford to attend school. Jonan says, “I had no hope that I would attend school and achieve my dream of being a Bursar (financial administrator within a school or university setting) because I had no money to pay for school fees, scholastic materials, uniforms or meals while at Bikogozo Primary school.

Jonan’s grandmother learned that Kutamba was recruiting Nursery students through the chairperson of the school management committee at Kutamba Primary school; who is also on the recruitment committee. Jonan was happy when he was considered after passing the interview to join Kutamba.

At Kutamba, Jonan tells us, “I am so much impressed by the school itself, free meals, scholastic materials, uniforms and no school fees! I have been able to make new friends not only at Kutamba but also at Nyaka Primary school, most especially Jackson in Nursery class at Nyaka. Visiting NVSS was a great inspiration for me to work hard to join such a good-looking school.

I am extremely glad for the opportunity of free education, which I never expected. I am working hard so that my dream of becoming a bursar is achieved. I thank Nyaka so much for sponsoring me.”

Many children like Jonan desire to learn and just need the opportunity to attend school. 

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What impresses me most about Jackson is his continued dedication to the community that raised him. I started following his story in 2007, and this belief that no one should be left behind is rare and admirable.

He has never forgotten his roots. As a retired social worker, I know that in order for a community to thrive, they need access to education and safe housing regardless of where they live in the world. I love that Nyaka agrees, and that this shows through the values the organization espouses.

I am now 99 years old and have decided to name Nyaka in my will. I made this decision because I know this organization is on the right track and has the potential to continue transforming the lives of many. I hope my gift will help for many years to come, and I encourage others to join me in making sure Nyaka is around for a long, long time!