Founder's Story
For as long as I can remember, my biggest dream has been to graduate. In my community, stepping onto a graduation stage is more than just an academic achievement—it is a symbol of survival, proof that one has defied the odds. I envisioned myself standing proudly, surrounded by familiar faces, capturing my accomplishments in photographs, and celebrating with those who believed in me...
However, for 19 years, this milestone eluded me. It was not until June 2024 that I finally graduated from high school at African Leadership Academy with the Sani Prize, a moment that marked the culmination of years of struggle and resilience. I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but my family and I were forced to flee due to war, seeking refuge in Uganda’s Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. The move shattered our lives. We arrived with nothing, thrown into an unforgiving world where survival was a daily battle. The concept of “home” became transient; every day in the settlement reminded us that we were displaced, powerless and forgotten. We lived in makeshift structures for a while, relying on humanitarian aid that was never enough. It was not long before I started schooling at Kasonga Primary in the camp. Attending school in Kyangwali was a privilege only a few could afford, even though education was our only hope for escaping the cycle of poverty. At Kasonga Primary School, the reality of the gap in education was stark — my first classroom was packed with over 300 students, some standing, others, including me, seated on the bare dusty floor. There were no reading books, textbooks or libraries at the time, and the teachers were overwhelmed by the number of pupils they had to take care of. My visual impairment, a condition I had since birth, made learning even harder. I struggled to see the blackboard, and there were no resources to accommodate students like me. Instead of support, I faced relentless bullying from peers and sometimes teachers. I was labeled the “half-blind kid,” mocked for my inability to see clearly or follow along in class. The taunts became unbearable. In my primary four, I had to drop out of school, defeated by a system that seemed designed to exclude me.