Sandra Namaleha

Sandra Namaleha

Sandra Namaleha, 15, is the third born in a family of 5 children; three sisters and two brothers. Sandra lost her mother, Scovia, to HIV/AIDS in 2003. Sandra narrates: “by the time of my mother’s death I was in Primary Four and we were living in Mbarara.” “My mother was working for a Micro-Finance Institution and she could meet all our needs.” Sandra and her four siblings were left with their ailing helpless father and later on their paternal uncle, James Koba, a teacher at St. Josephs Senior Secondary School took over responsibility of looking after them. James’ family together with Sandra live at Nakiwate village, just a couple of miles away from FINIDP contact office in Nakifuma.

Sandra is currently in senior two (S.2) at St. Anne’s Grace Secondary School. And because James has many dependants he finds it hard to pay the school fees and meet other school requirements for all her dependants. Sandra adds: “in my primary school days my uncle could afford my school fees, uniforms and other necessities, but secondary school costs have dramatically increased to an extent that uncle cannot afford them.” “I always suffer from malaria because I lack a mosquito net to safeguard me from mosquito bites.” “I can not read my books at night because we can not afford paraffin and moreover there is no electricity where we stay.” “I do not sleep comfortably; I lack a mattress, blanket and bed sheets.”

Sandra vowed: “my dearest potential sponsor, I will work hard and I promise to be a disciplined girl, I promise not to disappoint you.” “I want to be self-sustaining in future and where I can support other needy children after my studies.” “I know that without education in Uganda, the future is blurred, right now I’m able to tell my story in English because of the little education I have had so far.” “My favourite subjects are Agriculture and Accounts and my ambition is to become an Accountant.” “My uncle has not been mistreating me but as of now he can no longer afford to meet my education requirements; currently my school dues are not paid on time and my school attendance is irregular and I’m worried that if the situation continues this way I may dropout of school.” “I will be very grateful to God If I get a sponsor one day.”