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U-TOUCH values education as a tool for community empowerment and poverty alleviation. U-TOUCH has over the years supported vulnerable children in Uganda to realize their career goals through a sponsorship program facilitated through fundraising efforts of local schools in San Diego, California. These are children most of whom were orphaned by the over two decades of civil wars caused by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda. During this period, they did not have the opportunity to attend school and even after the wars, their guardians are financially incapacitated to meet their school fees and requirements. Thanks to La Jolla High School and Muirlands Middle School for lending helping hands to see these children through their education. Here, the students delightfully share their personal stories and appreciation to U-TOUCH for the precious gift of education.
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“Dear Friends, My name is Gloria and I would like to send my heartfelt appreciation to the U-TOUCH Club, and all the La Jolla High School and Muirlands Middle school students, faculty and staff. From a helpless little girl, I can now say I am becoming someone because of your kindness. Thank you for supporting my education in all ways that you have both for school and the technology camp I attend during school holidays.” U-TOUCH staff met Gloria as a Sponsored Student at age 5. She is one of eight cousins, now considered siblings, living with their grandmother after losing their parents in the LRA War. “Now 15 years old, I am from an extended family consisting of our grandmother, Aunt, Uncle, and my younger siblings. We have 8 grass-thatched huts, and 4 permanent houses with many fruit trees like oranges, mangoes and lemons. I live in Gulu district, in northern Uganda and attend Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School. We experience two climatic seasons; dry and rainy. Currently, we are in the dry season and the weather is hot be it day or night-time with lots of wind during the day. Our buildings however provide some insulation from extremes of temperatures and the many trees provide wind-breaks. Life generally is fantastic here in our home district. My favorite subjects at school are English, Computer and Literature. I would like to be a civil engineer in the future and also open up a computer center to reduce technology illiteracy. My favorite sporting activities are football, netball and handball. I am hoping to join a netball or football club at school and even join the Uganda Cranes netball team one day.” Through U-TOUCH technology training in Gulu, Gloria is learning computer skills including programing and becoming empowered with many important technology skills. By staying in school Gloria is looking toward a bright future to help her community in need. “As I will keep on studying, I will pay you back by passing my examinations. The love you have for me has made me to have a dream and given me the confidence to continue for a better future… I thank U-TOUCH, La Jolla High School, Muirlands Middle School so much for the continued support towards my education.”
Thank you for helping Gloria continue attending school!
Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. U-TOUCH brings OPPORTUNITY![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Gloria” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4431″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519742622{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Sebastian” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left” css=”.vc_custom_1520519843228{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
“Dear Students, My name is Sebastian and I was born during the insurgency in northern Uganda. During this period the activity was at its peak. As a result I lost my father when I was just a three-month old baby. I cannot remember my father up to now, because, all the photos in our house were burned by the rebels. I was remaining with my mother, only when I reached four years old my mother was also captured and was given the same punishment as my father. After that life was very hard. My sister became the head of the family. Luckily our aunt living in an urban center took us in and gave us an education though when I reached Primary Six in 2009 my aunt ran a shortage of money to continue our education. In the second term, U-TOUCH thankfully came to support us in school. I am very happy to be in school, which is only possible because of U-TOUCH. I deeply appreciate U-TOUCH for your support, not only paying our school fees but also offering scholastic materials toward our education. You work so tirelessly to make sure that we have a bright future for a better tomorrow. I appreciate LJHS U-TOUCH Club and Muirlands Middle School students for their great work to raise my school fees. Thank you! Life in our district is only slightly easier now that the war has ended but if you are not hard working or educated, things are even worse. One needs to use both their brains and manual effort to survive at least fairly here. To me, school has been the best place since I am able to meet different people from different backgrounds and I learn a lot from them. I love reading books and adventuring, since I am passionate to know what goes on beyond my locality. In school, my favorite subjects are mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry. Thank you for your kind loving support.” ~ Sebastian
We met Sebastian in 2009, when he was 11 years old living with his Grandma Francesca and seven cousins. We enrolled Sebastian at Negri Secondary School where he had been identified as a “bright and excellent” student, which was readily apparent. Sebastian had built a reading hut, where he and Julius, practiced to become proficient readers and scholars. At 11 years old, Sebastian built a working radio from a collection of junk parts – a Jerry Can (like a gas can) a small white plastic basket, antenna, circuit board, batteries, speakers and wire! Sebastian connected all the components and we danced to the music from his ingenious radio creation. Sebastian as an athlete plays soccer. He is funny, sensitive, and quick to smile. His teachers LOVE Sebastian and believe he has a terrific future since LJHS has kept him in school. Taking his education very seriously, Sebastian ranked top, #1 student four consecutive years in Secondary School, scored the highest on a national exam in his district, was invited to attend the top high school in Uganda and now attending Mbarara University for his Bachelor’s degree. Sebastian wants to be a physician to help his country’s extreme medical needs. Sebastian has a bright future if we keep him in school. “I am very happy to be at school and ‘am smelling’ the sense of achieving my dream of being a medical doctor just because of you, since you are always in touch” U-TOUCH helps Sebastian with his university education to realize his dream & create solutions to Uganda’s challenges. You are making a difference! Thank you!
Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. U-TOUCH brings Opportunity!
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Sebastian” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4427″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519742622{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Lamaro Peace” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left” css=”.vc_custom_1520519988664{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
(LOVE PEACE)
“I wish to thank U-TOUCH and all the students and staff of Muirlands Middle School and La Jolla High School for having saved me through sponsoring me at school and giving me parental care as their beloved one everywhere I go. I am very happy that you have taken good care of me and I appreciate you for raising money for my school fees.”
After Peace’s parents were killed in the LRA War her 11-year old brother, Patrick, was taken captive. Peace at six and Denis, her four-year old brother were taken in by neighbors until Patrick escaped his captors and returned to his village to find and care for his brother and sister. Though the rebels had burned their hut to the ground with terrific resilience and motivation Patrick then head of the household worked small construction jobs to earn a minute amount of money for the family to live. Young Peace learned from their neighbors, and cooked for her brothers over firewood that she collected. She also cleaned, laundered clothes, and walked for water for this young family. Unfortunately all they could manage was for Peace to attend one of the overcrowded government schools. In 2009, thanks to U-TOUCH, Peace was able to attend the highly regarded Vienna Primary School and Northern City Secondary School. She is a poet and artist who loves to draw and is also an excellent athlete. “Your great work has made me to nurse my dreams and I hope to become a midwife. In the past, life was not easy until U-TOUCH came to my life and started supporting me in school. I want to appreciate you for your support by sponsoring my education.” Thank you for helping Peace continue her education to fulfill her dream of a bright future and one-day help others as U-TOUCH has done for her!
You are helping Peace stay in school and realize her dreams!
Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. U-TOUCH brings Opportunity!
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Peace” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4429″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519742622{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Sunday” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left” css=”.vc_custom_1520520928162{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
“Dear La Jolla High School U-TOUCH Club, teachers, students and staff, I would like to start by thanking you all for the excellent work you have been doing for me all this while. You make me a proud boy among my people. Thank you very much for your generosity and kindness towards me. In this world where we are living, I wouldn’t be able to continue my education without you. I send my appreciation to the staff, students and the organization struggling hard to raise funds for my education.” After the rebels killed my parents in the LRA War we survived, though I was young. Not forgetting the help of U-TOUCH I would like to thank LJHS U-TOUCH Club and Muirlands Middle School for my education and with your help my goal is clear.” Sunday began school without a proper academic education, as his grandmother did not have the funds to provide for him. U-TOUCH began sponsoring Sunday, in 2006 when he was five years old and transferred him to a highly regarded primary school where he became a student leader. Then he transitioned to Gulu Central High School and is performing well. Sunday has always dreamed of becoming a pilot “You make me a proud boy among my people. Thank you for your generosity and kindness towards me I was so happy to have been blessed by your supporting my education. I promise to do the same to others in future.”
Please help Sunday continue his education so that he can reach his dream of becoming a pilot and helping his community and country! He is most grateful for the education U-TOUCH has provided him.
Thank you for helping Sunday stay in school and realize his dreams.
Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. LJHS brings OPPORTUNITY!
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Sunday” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4430″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519742622{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Julius” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left” css=”.vc_custom_1520522761832{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
“Greetings to U-TOUCH, all my dear teachers and students of La Jolla High School and Muirlands Middle School. I am called Julius. I was born to my late parents, who were killed during the time of the Lord Resistance Army’s activities in northern Uganda (LRA War). My parents died when I was a young child, helpless in the village. I am now a senior six student of St. Joseph’s Layibi High School. I sincerely would like to thank you for your support of my school fees you render me always, which enables me to study normally every term. How I wish you always continue with the same heart in other years to come. Thank you. In school, I am offering biology, agriculture and geography as a subject combination with relation to my future dreams of becoming a veterinary doctor. It is because of you that my dream will come true. This year’s technology camp was fun, interesting and I learned a lot. First I was able to improve my basic computer skills and to develop my own game called coin picker using unity software. After training on this for the past two years I was introduced to a software called Maya which is used to create animations and we were taught interior design and character modeling. I would like just to thank you for funding my tuition for the training and wish one time some of your students could come and attend the training with us. Life before you started supporting me was very difficult. I couldn’t afford an education, didn’t even know its importance and had no access to computers but things have changed so greatly since you came into my life and started helping me. I now go to a good school, have computer access and a future. In particular, I would like to thank U-TOUCH, the students and teachers of LJHS and MMS for continuously supporting me in every aspect of my life, raising my fees and other scholastic materials and keeping me in school for the past years. With this, I would like to promise you that I will work hard to achieve my dream and also be able to support other people in my region and others as best I can. I wish you success in all you are doing and request any willing persons to join hands in supporting the needy African children.”
Thank you for helping Julius stay in school & realize his dreams.
Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. U-TOUCH brings OPPORTUNITY!
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Julius” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4432″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519742622{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Gorrety” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left” css=”.vc_custom_1552463784540{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
“Dear U-TOUCH and Muirlands Middle School, La Jolla High School, teachers, students and staff, I am Gorreti. I am the first-born and have two brothers in our family. When I was 7 years old, after rebel soldiers killed my mother, our father took us to Lake Albert to escape the LRA war. We stayed there for a few years then unfortunately my father became sick. Since I was young I did not know how to care for his illness and there was no proper medical care during the war. Though I tried my best for him to get better, I failed. Early one morning we woke up to find our father had died during the night. From then I started protecting my two brothers until my grandmother came a long distance to take us and brought us up in the world up to now. I was playing in a brass band for life, caring for me and my brothers and our grandmother at home. I was also able to attend school sometimes for the little money I earned but missed many classes due to the lack of school fees. Now I am studying at Gulu Central High School with the support of U-TOUCH. My school sponsorship is so important to me because without, I would not finish my study or achieve my dreams. I am so grateful for all the students, teachers and sponsors, because without them my life was going to end short and I was not going to study or have a future. I now study math, English, chemistry, history, physics, commerce, biology, and geography. The benefit of my education in Uganda is going to help me study to become a nurse where am going to help treat sick people in order to fight the high rate of death and disease in Uganda. Thank you. I am grateful for your kind loving support toward my education.”
Thank you for helping Gorreti stay in school and realize her dreams of becoming a nurse!
Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. LJHS brings OPPORTUNITY!
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Gorrety” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4433″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519742622{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Lawrence” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left” css=”.vc_custom_1552461842609{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
“I grew up in a poor family with my grandmother, uncle and other family members. We faced financial difficulties in paying for school, therefore many of our family members did not go to school. My parents died in 2001 when I was 3 years old during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war in Northern Uganda. Thereafter, my grandmother took care of me and with time, I began my primary level of education. I studied from primary one up to primary five by paying only half of the school fees. After knowing the importance of education, I started doing some other work like selling food to raise some money to pay my school fees. I did very well in school, scoring the highest in my school on the Primary Leaving Examinations. The school administration gave me books and pens to help me join secondary level of education in appreciation for my excellent performance. From 2014 to 2016, I studied from senior one to senior three by paying only half of the school fees because I was among the best-performing students. I finished senior four in 2017 and passed well but I did not join the advanced level of education because there was no money to pay my school fees. However, I did not lose hope for further studies because of my good performance in class. My hope is in achieving an advanced level of education so that I become a medical doctor in the future. I, therefore, appreciate your effort so much and it is because of you that I am proud and hopeful to fit in the changing world. By these reasons, I am most grateful and encourage you to continue with this program because it will raise a generation which will be able to help other people and change lives in our communities.”
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Lawrence” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4687″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519742622{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Stephen” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left” css=”.vc_custom_1521020670912{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
My name is Stephen and I live in Gulu town, Northern Uganda. I am so grateful to Muirlands Middle School, and U-TOUCH for contributing immensely towards achieving my career goal. I must admit that it would have not been possible for me to complete my studies up to the University without the great support from the students and teachers of Muirlands Middle School who raised the funds to sponsor my education. At 14 years of age, I was in my first year of high school at Alliance High School Gulu though it did not guarantee smooth learning for me. I was often sent away from school by the authorities because of the lack of school fees, therefore, missed a lot of classes. Despite all the hard times I still remained focus and determined to succeed academically and in life. However, when I was admitted by U-TOUCH and supported by La Jolla High School and Muirlands Middle School you kept me in school as my tuition fees and scholastic materials were all catered for through the school sponsorship program. I successfully completed high school with high grades and was admitted to Gulu University to pursue an undergraduate degree. I successfully completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration with honors. Through my studies, I volunteered a lot with U-TOUCH at the Technology Hub in Gulu supporting the ICT facilitators to conduct training in computer skills for youths. I was exposed to many additional skills through U-TOUCH, which benefited my education. I also volunteered as a team leader for the Peaceconferencing program, an online problem solving technique that applies gaming simulation to solve world and community issues with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). I acquired a lot of skills with U-TOUCH, which enabled me to be accepted for a job with a rights and governance based civil society organization called HURAMO-Uganda as a Field Officer. As a result I have been able to support my family’s basic needs including sending my siblings to school. Currently, I am pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma course in Human Resource Management at Uganda Management Institute and I am again grateful for U-TOUCH to support my tuition. I appreciate the teachers and students of La Jolla High School and Muirlands Middle School and U-TOUCH for contributing towards my academic success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Apwoyo Matek!” (Thank you)
Please donate to help Stephen continue his education.
Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. LjHS and MMS brings OPPORTUNITY!
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Stephen” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”2247″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519742622{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Kevin” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left” css=”.vc_custom_1552300069574{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
With the generous support from La Jolla High School and Muirlands Middle School U-TOUCH proudly supports students in Uganda.
Sponsored student Kevin shares her story:
“My name is Kevin. I was, born on 11th September 1997. When I reached seven years, my father and mother died and I became an orphan. Then I started schooling when I was eight years in primary one. This was during the time when the insurgency in Northern Uganda was at its peak and I had no one to stay with and to take proper care of me. Fortunately, my aunt came to the village and took my brother and me to her home in town. My aunt would give us guidance and show us love and care. She taught us how to work in the house, washing clothes, cooking, sweeping the compound, gardening, and how to relate with our friends, relatives and neighbors. It was hard for me, going through tough times until U-TOUCH came to support me in school. I was in Primary four and with U-TOUCH support I reached Primary seven in 2012. I sat for my Primary exit exams and passed very well. I was then admitted to St Mary’s secondary school, in Gulu town. I have studied there for the past three years and now I’m in senior four. I will sit for a national exam at the end of this year. U-TOUCH has been so helpful and supportive of my life and education in particular. My school fees and scholastic materials have all been taken care of and that has made me to concentrate in school and do well. In the future, after my studies, I would like to become a teacher or businesswoman. From my business I would like to be able to support my family with their needs and pay school fees for other needy children, just like U-TOUCH is doing for me. I thank U-TOUCH so much for its continued support towards my education”
Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. U-TOUCH brings Opportunity!
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sponsor Kevin” color=”primary” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-heart-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipcause.com%2Fsecure%2Fcause_pdetails%2FMTA2NzY0||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1520519891620{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4061″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]