My name is Adong Flavia from St. Katherine Secondary School. I am 18 years old. I would like to appreciate all of the supporters and well-wishers of the African Girls Can organization for their support in uplifting and empowering girls in Africa.
I joined the AGC organization as a scholar this year, 2018, in Form Five and I am so blessed to be one of the lucky girls. I would like to give you a brief story of my background and family. I come from a nuclear family of 8 members, which includes both parents, and I am the second born of six children. We live on a small homestead located in the small village of Acoto in Kole District. It is a small compound with five grass thatched houses of different sizes. Each serves as a room for the parents, two boys, three girls, kitchen and the visitor’s house. We majorly depend on farming as the only source of family income and our food. It involves the growing of crops and rearing of a few domestic animals. In the immediate surroundings, there are edible fruits like bananas, mangoes and oranges.
I went to a small private school for my primary level education. The school is located some kilometers away from home. I would walk to and from school with my friends and siblings.
Since the only source of income is farming, it means that the level of family income depends on the crop yields. Therefore, the school fees payment and provision of other personal requirements depends on the weather. The climate has been changing with too much sunshine that dried up the crops from the garden. Throughout my life, I have always been in and out of school and I became in debt. Because there was no other way, my parents had always requested the school administration to accommodate me in school and they promised to pay the fee debts later.
I almost lost interest in education. I felt humiliated and a public disgrace, moving from one teacher to another to look for assistance. Not everyone that I went to welcomed me heartfully. I was often hurt by their comments:
“Who does your father think he is? Don’t you think we have our own children to pay for? Just go back home and do other things if you cannot afford to pay fees,” they told me.
I resorted to staying in the lonely places of the school to dodge the teachers concerned. I would cry and I hated myself for who I was at that time. But, still, I went on and on because I wanted to be educated and to reach my dream.
For several consecutive years, especially in 2016-18, there has been enormous decline in crop yields. By then, my parents thought the only solution was to get a loan to help pay the fees. It turned out to be the the worst solution ever because there was nothing to pay back the loan. My father would move from one friend or relative to another to get a little money, just to buy supplies needed for starting back to school. All was in vain because others also lacked money and the few with money do not value girls’ education. In the second term of Form Four (final year of Ordinary Level), I had to stay at home for a month, missing my mock examinations. All had been sold to buy school requirements, there was totally no money, and for a period of time, the family survived on vegetables for food.
The reality that I may not go back to school was becoming true after Form Four vacation. The family had totally nothing to pay for the previous debts and allow me to start another class (i.e. continue to Advanced Level). It was the most difficult moment in my life to say goodbye to school and my career as well. But, I just didn’t believe there would be another chance for me to be in school again.
It came by surprise! I never expected it. A week after other A-Level students had reported to school, I received word from the Head of School, requesting me to report to school the following day. She told me that African Girls Can had agreed to support me. I am so happy to be in school again! Now that I am here, I am a living testimony to other hopeless girls.
My dream to become a lawyer comes from the need to give free and fair justice to all people without consideration of their sex or income status. I hope it will make it possible for me to help the young generation whose rights to education and freedom have been neglected by their parents and societies around them.
As any other person in the world with likes, dislikes and memories, I like chatting with friends, reading novels in my free time both at school and at home. I mostly spend time helping my parents with garden and domestic work. during the holidays. I dislike being in the company of those who degrade my values.
My best memories were when I passed with a first grade (highest possible) both Primary and O-Level examinations. Even though they were not to my expectations, it’s a success to me, my parents and all those who wish me well. I still hate that time when I missed pre-mock examinations after being sent home for fees.
My best moments are with friends at school and with my parents and siblings. My worst moments were when I felt neglected, lonely or despised. It is difficult to know what a friend thinks of you, but I feel I am loving, caring to everyone, do not hurt anyone intentionally and lead by example.
We the African girls wish you the best in all that you are doing. You always inspire us, encourage us and support us too. There is nothing that we can offer as a gift for you than these heartfelt words for you and the effort that we are going to put in our education. Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
Adong Flavia
Flavia, who is studying the “combination” of Literature, Economics and Geography won an award for being one of the best students in the Arts stream in the second term of 2018. She is on track to be our first graduate and we are so proud of her! She wrote and recited this poem to the visitors.
Climate Change is a key part of Flavia’s story and an extra challenge in her ability to go to school. Read the latest from Global Citizen.
Educating girls is also a key part of the solution to Climate Change! We explain how on our website here.
Read other stories about our scholarship recipients here. There are lots more girls like Flavia in rural Uganda. Would you like to help send one to school? Give here.
