By Priyanka Zacharias | International Strategic Partnerships Manager
Justine* grew up in a poor rural village in Uganda. Desperate to support the family, her mother put her on a bus to the capital, Kampala, where she had arranged a job for Justine as a babysitter with a family who used to live in the same village.
But the family treated Justine atrociously: they abused her and gave her almost nothing to eat. She ran away, but not knowing how to get back home, ended up lost on the streets. Thanks to an intervention from a concerned adult and a police officer, Justine was brought to one of Retrak’s Lighthouses for care and protection.
As the Lighthouse staff looked after Justine they also worked to trace her mother, and then visited the village to teach her mother about the dangers of child trafficking and the importance of education.
When staff were sure it was safe for Justine to return home, we reintegrated her with her family and enrolled her in school. At a recent follow-up visit, Justine was still happily in school, attending regularly and with a great performance, especially in science. We’re so pleased to hear how well Justine is now, and what fantastic progress she’s made.
*name changed to protect child’s identity
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