Child Sponsorship

Sarah’s Story in Her Own Words

My name is Sarah and I was sponsored through Outreach Uganda since 2008 when I was a first grader. I recently graduated with a Diploma in Cosmetology and am working in a hairdressing salon.

I am so thankful for my sponsors who gave me hope and strength and made me graduate. I am the first person in my mother’s side of the family to graduate. I now work in confidence because of my education. Not only have I learned a lot through education, I’ve made good friends and learned computer.

If you are sponsoring a child now, I want to say, don’t give up on your sponsored child. Your sponsorship is giving your child knowledge and hope even when they might be going through difficult circumstances. It wasn’t always easy for me. Midway through her sponsorship, Sarah’s mother passed away and she was separated from her younger sister whom she was helping. But don’t give up. I did not give up during the earlier time I was not doing well. And now I have a job and can get a job and work.

I have achieved my childhood dream of graduating. I now have specialized skills of doing hair, makeup and nails. I am focusing my life, and working so hard that I can one day have a business of my own. I want to have my own shop. I want to help my sisters’ kids. I don’t want them to go through what we had to go through as children.

I feel grateful for where I am now compared to other girls from where I grew up in the slums. They are married and have many kids and are doing nothing– just stuck there.  For me, I have a job and know I can get work because of my skills. My thinking is different and my level of understanding is different.  I am so thankful for the education opportunity that was given to me!