I was very traumatized, because being the first girl in the family, I nursed my parents and watched them die one by one, including my little brother. Left with only grandmother, life was also not easy because  she was aged and sickly. I once again took over responsibility to care for her.

I started going to the streets and market to pick leftover foodstuff, especially potatoes and peas thrown at the market site. I carefully selected these and took home so we could eat with the my grandmother. Sometimes we had to beg from the streets to get money for rent. I  could also go to work at the rice mill. I collected the rice and I was paid, and sold most of it, so that we can have money to buy necessities.

CRO found me on the streets in Mbale during a day survey of street children in 2005. I  was interviewed and enrolled in the CRO rehabilitation class. But unfortunately, i was not willing to attend . The CRO social workers visited our home and after counseling the old woman and assuring  her that CRO would take good care of  me,  she  was now willing to let me attend the Rehabilitation Program.

I  joined CRO Rehabilitation Program in 2005. I was scared and withdrawn. I also had abdominal worms.  I  was treated at the CRO clinic for various infections. I  made a lot of progress in the rehabilitation class, and in 2006 was enlisted for formal school in Nabuyonga Primary School. Currently  I am studying at Bright Future primary five.  I  am a bright girl and i perform well in school. I am studying hard to become a nurse after my studies.  After many counseling sessions, I have built resiliency, and is coping well with  my situation.

“I love CRO because they gave me food and also took me to school”