By Deborah Hoffman Plotkin | Founder
U-TOUCH Julius, a Sponsored Student on the way to his summit!
My name is Julius, I am one of the students being sponsored by U-TOUCH in Uganda. I am joining the university this August, to pursue a bachelor degree in science in agriculture. Makerere University has been my dream since I was a child, I have worked hard to be accepted since it is the best university in East Africa.
I would like to thank GlobalGiving and the students, teachers and everyone at La Jolla schools who are working hard to raise funds to keep me in school since my primary education. I am joining Makerere University since it is an excellent university with good learning and research facilities. I am so happy that I will use this opportunity to do my best. I am so grateful for the wonderful support you are giving me and the other sponsored students over all the many years. I would like to say that I will work hard at Makerere so that I can achieve the best results and get a good job in the future to be independent, helping the needy people, my family and the community, at large. Thank you all very much. I am grateful and everyone please continue with your support, as without, I would not have the opportunity to be attending Makerere University.
Julius was six years old when we found him in the village. He was living with his grandmother, Francesca, who was caring for her eight grandchildren after her five children were killed in the LRA War. Francesca did not have the funds to educate the children living only from her small subsistence garden. The children helped “dig” in the garden growing basic vegetables and walked to and from the bore-hole for their daily water for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Julius was quiet but had a beautiful smile that lit up every heart around him. It did not take long to see that Julius was out of school due to lack of school fees to pay for even a basic government education. Students need funds to pay for uniforms, food, pencils, and basic composition books to be able to attend school. Though the funds necessary were minimal by US standards, Francesca, as well as many families, did not have the adequate funds to put their children or grandchildren in school. In fact, 1.3 million children reported by UNGEI (UN Girls Education Initiative) were out of school in 2007 in northern Uganda when we met Julius. He and his cousins were among that statistic.
After a visit to their makeshift school, it was apparent Julius and Sebastian created a reading hut where Julius and his cousin Sebastian spent hours pouring over scraps of reading materials to feel as though they were in school, deriving an education. With their palpable fervor for an education U-TOUCH immediately put Julius and his cousins in school promising to support their school fees as far as they chose to pursue their education.
Julius took his education seriously from primary through secondary school. He performed well studying consistently and never missed a day of school. During school holidays he helped his grandmother dig in the garden to ensure she and his cousins had food on the table since due to arthritis she was no longer ambulatory. After his chores, Julius rode his bicycle which U-TOUCH gifted him so that he could take classes to develop proficient computer skills including programming and game development skills. Julius continued learning additional computer skills at the U-TOUCH Center after high school graduation, while he was a vacist, the time between graduation and enrollment into Makerere University, December – August.
Julius was elated at the acceptance to both Makerere and Gulu University. Though Gulu University is close to home, Julius reached for the challenge to enroll in the prominent Makerere University, located in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, where he had never even previously visited. With strong courage and high motivation, Julius last week boarded a bus for the first time on a long trip to the big city, to pursue his dream. We are extremely proud of Julius and excited to follow his stories on the way to the summit of his successful future.
Education is the investment to strengthen and empower a nation with respect, dignity, justice, opportunity and economic self-reliance. As Sarah, a U-TOUCH student now teacher shares," U-TOUCH is a Password, a Password to Transformation! "
U-TOUCH has trained and transformed over 5000 graduates through education, employment, and entrepreneurship. U-TOUCH is making an impact and with your continued support and that of others in your tribe, we can reach other regions pleading for the same tools and training to advances their communities as well. Thank you for you support of Julius who now studying at Makerere University is on the way to his summit! Please share your remarkable work with all those family and friends, as you know, the lives you change are the lives U-TOUCH!
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By Deborah Plotkin | Founder/Executive Director
By Deborah Plotkin | Founder/Executive Director
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