Child: Emmanuel Kidega

Emmanuel is 11 years old and in 4th grade. He is an HIV/AIDS orphan and lives with an impoverished uncle who cares for 4 of his own biological children. Emmanuel’s birth-date is unknown.

An interview with Emmanuel
I like learning English in school because I get best marks in it. I have a friend named Daniel. We stay together to read exercise books.

I want to be a medical doctor to help people stay alive, so that they also help others in the future. Every time I fall sick I am treated at home and given medicine, but I have visited a hospital before with other relatives, like my uncle’s twins, and there were so many patients at the hospital that I feel I could help.

School gives me the opportunity to become a more wiser child. I normally miss school because I don’t have school fees. I get very happy, very excited, when I get school fees. I’m sent home every term because of lack of fees. This term I arrived with the required broom and toilet papers but will be sent home because I have no fees.

Fees: 13,400 Ugandan shillings per term.
Three terms = 40,200 Ush. (~US $20/yr).
Must also purchase school uniform for 15,000 USh (~US $7.50), a broom, toilet paper and exercise books
Total school sponsorship: US $40/yr.