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December 13th, 2011Jonzun Radio Kids Interviews Julius and Monica
May 8th, 2011Jonzun Radio Kids Interviews Julius, Monica, and Steve
Our Students Publish L.E.A.D Magazine
February 23rd, 2011The goal of L.E.A.D Magazine is to give you a chance to learn about Uganda through stories, poems, and opinions written by the students of L.E.A.D Uganda.
Click on the link below to read it.
Review of Uganda exhibit
February 22nd, 2011Transforming Lives, an exhibit at Nassau Commnity College was reviewed on Patch.com. The photographs by Stephen Shames show issues children face in Uganda and L.E.A.D Uganda’s students.
Former street kid, Musa gets A on national exam
February 19th, 2011Musa Ssekanjako, a former street kid, was one of 6 L.E.A.D Uganda students who received 1st grades or “A’s” on their 11th grade national exams.
Musa’s Story:
I grew up with my grandmother Nafuna Zaituni in the village. As she grew older, she could not even raise money for my books and school uniform. I dropped out of school and stayed at home helping my grandmother dig in her small garden. I felt I had been denied the chance to go to school. In 2002, I decided to walk to Mbale, a distance of 25 miles, to pursue my dream of a better life.
LEFT: Street kid (not Musa) sleeps in Masaka, Uganda. RIGHT: Musa.
I lived on the streets of Mbale for several days, at times with no food. Conditions got worse and worse. I decided to find means to reach Kampala, the capital city, because I thought life on its streets would be better. I helped traders carry their luggage in return for money, and when I had enough, I got on the bus to Kampala.
As a newcomer to Kampala, street life was not easy because the boys on the street were ruder than I expected. After six months on the streets, we were rounded up by the police and taken to a children’s remand (detention) facility, where an NGO that looks after street kids, bailed me out. I was guaranteed a daily meal. However my deepest desire was to go to school and study and be able to help my grandmother.
In 2004, L.E.A.D Uganda came looking for smart kids who wanted to go to school. Unlike the other NGO, L.E.A.D is an educational leadership program. I felt my deepest desire was finally met. I was taken to St. John Bosco Katende where I got an “A” in 7th grade. Because of my good grades, I was able to join Seeta High, one of the top high schools. L.E.A.D re-united me with my family, who I had not seen for three years.
I am so glad that they took me. I am now happy and fulfilled. I look forward to becoming a computer engineer after my studies. I also look forward to building my grandmother a house and buying her a big piece of land. I also want to rehabilitate and educate children who live on the streets, giving them food, shelter, and making it possible for them go to school.
Musa is looking for a sponsor.
Moses Kusasira Gets A on National Exam
February 12th, 2011A’s – 1st Grades
Moses Kusasira got 21
LEFT: Moses (center) in 2000 with his sister Viictorious (left) and his Mom. RIGHT: Moses mentors Regius, a new L.E.A.D Uganda student.
I was raised by my mother, who is HIV-positive. My father died when I was a baby. I grew up asking my mom, Where is my dad?. I did not understand why I did not have a dad. One day (in 2000), my 13-year-old sister Victorious went for a blood check up. She was found to be HIV-positive. Within one year, when I was in 1st grade, my sister, whom I loved very much, passed away leaving me very sad.
Victorious’ death left my mother in disarray. When I reached 3rd grade my mother told me that she had no money for me to attend upper classes and also feed the family. We were living in a poorly built house on the outskirts of Makinde in Kampala. We were wearing rags and sleeping on the floor for many years.
Since I joined L.E.A.D Uganda, I live a happy life and am able to go to school. I am able to forget all the past bad moments. I now attend Seeta High, one of Ugandas top high schools. Besides being a top student, I preach at my church, and write and perform rap music. I wrote a rap for L.E.A.D Uganda that they put on the website.
In my life, I value education with all my heart. I want to be an accountant or a musician. I hope to be able to raise my nother’s living standards after I graduate. I also want to help children affected by HIV/AIDS. I will work to see that all children have a violence free childhood.
Moses is sponsored by Bill Cochran.
6 of 9 L.E.A.D Uganda students earned A’s on their national 11th grade exams.
February 10th, 20113 got B’s.
We are proud of them all.
Monica wrote:
“Steve,
So far so good!
Moses, Musa , Madina, Nokrach, and Tony.
All the above S.4 candidates whose results are out have scored 1st grades (“A”s) in their S.4 National Exams (U.C.E) !!!!!!!! I am so excited!
Monica”
Ronald missed an A by 2 points. Maria and Kwere got B’s.
8 L.E.A.D Uganda Students Excel on National Exams!
January 30th, 20116 of our 8 students taking their National 7th grade
Primary Leaving Examinations received 1st grades or A’s;
2 received high 2nd grades or B+s.
1st Grade – 6 students:
A+: Amos and Edward, A: Rahim, Kalungi, and Innocent, A-: Martha
Second Grade – 2 students
B+: Ojok and Shirat
All eight of our students were admitted to top high schools.
L.E.A.D Uganda has more students in top schools than any other NGO in Uganda.
We are so proud of them. Please join us in congratulating them for their hard work.
Amos: A+ / 1st Grade: 5 aggregates – Admitted to King’s College Budo
Amos received a score of 5. He was the best in his school. Amos, who lives in Kitgum and is orphaned by the war in the north had one of the highest scores of children from his war-torn rural district. The newspaper came to Amos’ school to interview his teachers for a story about Amos.Amos was admitted into high school at the legendary Kings College Budo, one of Uganda’s top schools.
Edward – A+ / 1st Grade: 6 aggregates – Going to Namugongo
Edward is a double orphan who lives in a Kampala slum. He has been in and out of school due to money problems. He applied to L.E.A.D Uganda last year. Monica told him if he did well on his 7th grade PLE exam, we would take him. He studied hard and did spendidly.
Edward was admitted to Namugongo, one of Uganda’s top high schools.
Edward is a hard worker. He is persistent. Even though we told him we could not decide until after the exam results were in, he come by our office two or three times a week during his school break to wash dishes and clean the compound. That is the attitude we look for in students: determination and a willingness to help. We are delighted he has joined our family.
It is that time of the year again when we think about others.
December 2nd, 2010We Need Your Help
Please look at the “before and after” photos. See the progress of our remarkable children in Uganda.
They are overcoming the traumas of war, AIDS, and poverty to become leaders who will help their country.
Please think about our children as you consider your holiday donations.
2010 was a turning point for L.E.A.D Uganda.
We admitted a twenty new students. Most were girls. “We will admit more girls until we reach gender equality,” says Director Monica Nankoma.
We purchased 15 acres of land, which will be future home for our orphans. We plan to build dorms, an office, and a community center on the land in the next two years.
Our future plans include constructing a high school with an advanced information technology / science focus. There is no school like this in sub Saharan Africa.
Our students continue to excel.
Last June, Joseph became the first poor boy elected Head Boy at Budo Junior, Uganda’s elite primary school. Joseph, whose parents died from HIV/ AIDS when he was 3 says, “I feel like I am a hero. This is a school for (cabinet) ministers children and so on. They come from very rich families, but I am their leader.”
Former rock quarry laborer Katongole was elected to University Student Guild Council. More than half of Uganda’s members of Parliament started on the Guild Council. Katongole is studying pharmacy at Makerere University on a full Government scholarship.
8 of out of our 9 candidates received 1st grades on their national exams, taken at the end of 11th grade.
7th grader Amos, an orphan from a refugee camp in northern Uganda, and 4th grader Victoria, who comes from a slum area in Kampala, both received perfect 4 in 4 grades. Rahim was a finalist in a national math contest and continues at the top of his class.
Student entrepreneur, Allisen, built the most efficient farm in his village using modern agricultural techniques he learned in school. The profits to pay his university fees.
We need you this year more than ever.
We do not have the financial means to do all we need to do for our kids without your renewed support. Your financial partnership is vital to our children. In these are difficult economic times, when many of our supporters are hurting and can not help as much as they would like, your support is even more crucial.
One thing L.E.A.D Uganda can promise you that not every non-profit can is that we are really making a difference in training the next generation of entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors. We achieve this by going the distance with our kids, who we treat as we treat our own children. They respond by doing incredible things.
“You do so much with so little,” is what Leah Karp of the Goldfarb Foundation told me recently.
L.E.A.D Uganda is small, but effective.
Please give us a little so we can do a lot of good in the world. Help us transform the life of a child. Your donation allows one orphan, one child who was abducted and forced to participate in the war, one child who worked in a rock quarry to attend the very best boarding school and realize their potential.
100% of the money you give goes to the children’s education, healing, and care.
Pleasae make a recurring monthly (or a one-time) donation by clicking on the “Help Change Lives – Donate Now!” button below:
Stephen Shames is Named a Purpose Prize Fellow
December 2nd, 2010The Purpose Prizes Honor Americans Over Age 60 for Making an Extraordinary Impact in their Encore Careers
Civic Ventures announced that Stephen Shames, a New York based photojournalist and humanitarian, is a 2010 Purpose Prize Fellow. Shames was recognized as a social entrepreneur over 60 who, in his encore career, is using his experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fifth year, the six-year, $17 million Purpose Prize program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.
Shames was named a Fellow because he founded L.E.A.D Uganda, an educational leadership program that transforms AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers, and other forgotten children into leaders by giving them the best education and the entrepreneurial skills they need to achieve their dreams and help their communities. L.E.A.D Uganda’s 94 students are “A” students at the best schools. They are making a difference in their communities.
“Purpose Prize Fellows show what’s possible in our communities – and the world – when experienced adults apply their passion and skill to improve the lives of others.” said Alexandra Céspedes Kent, Director of The Purpose Prize. “Imagine the potential for society if tens of thousands of adults focused their know-how on the social causes they are most passionate about – it’s a tremendous opportunity.”
“I am thrilled and honored to be recognized by the Purpose Prize and Civic Ventures for my work for L.E.A.D Uganda,” said Stephen Shames. “If someone had told me ten years ago I would one day be transforming the lives of children in Africa, I would not have believed it. Using my skills and experience as a photojournalist to help vulnerable kids is very gratifying. It keeps me going and feeling young.”
The Purpose Prize, funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation, is a program of Civic Ventures’ Encore Careers campaign which aims to engage millions of baby boomers in encore careers combining social impact, personal meaning and continued income in the second half of life. For more information, visit: www.encore.org/prize.
