SOME OF THE STORIES OF IMPACT
Take a look at some of the children and women whose lives have been positively impacted by the care and generosity of PALCO. We’re immensely proud of their journey towards transformation.
Joash Kibalama Mwesigwa
Kibalama Joash Mwesigwa a 14 year old boy who lives with his widowed mother and 3 siblings. He lost his father in a motor accident when he was 6.
Joash is one of those whose education was affected by the COVID 19 pandemic while he was in Primary Six. However, during the lockdown she couldn’t even afford the basic needs like food and so Joash and his elder brother were forced to find a job at a construction site to take care of the their mum and the young brothers. When schools opened, he couldn’t return to school anymore because there wasn’t anyone to pay his school fees and his mother became jobless.
A friend referred him to PALCO, and he passed by few times until we realised that he was desperate to return to school hence offering him a scholarship. From our meagre savings we decided to take him back to school. His excitement was immeasurable.
Joash is now settled and is in year two of High School. We believe he will achieve his dream of becoming an Engineer.
Kwagala Rachael
One ordinary day, one of our child welfare social workers met a young girl by the names of Kwagala Rachael aged 11 years. It was a week day and normally Rachael would have been at school by that time. Instead, she was up on the top of a community garbage collection point picking used plastic bottles. The social worker got concerned and spared some time to engage Rachael into a conversation.
It was found out that Rachael was the first born to their single mom of three kids. Racheal, her young sister Tracy, 9 and their brother Abbey, 7 years old had dropped out of school due unpaid school fees. Their father; the would-be provider had passed away when their mother was expecting the Abbey. Their mother had no specific gainful employment and has to do odd jobs to make basic needs of only food and shelter. As she wanders in the morning to fend for her family, she charges the kids to as well go around to pick plastic bottles, which are later cleaned and sold to buy food. This story was shared in the office, a home visit was organized, children were put in Rehaboth primary school, children profiles taken and submitted for sponsorship.
The children are happily in school and the sponsorship has made them love school more than before. The education opportunity has improved their self-esteem and as they now believe they have a brighter future. We keep praying and hoping that their mother will be able to get some stable means of income so she can better be able to provide for her kids with other basic needs at home. PALCO through the social workers continue to monitor and support the family and explore additional opportunities for similar cases.