profile: nelson

Three months from tomorrow, I will be heading to Uganda for my fourth time. In anticipation of the trip, my head is once again filled with the people, smells, sounds, colors, warmth and energy that is the “Pearl of Africa.”

My posts on this blog will begin to turn more and more to the upcoming trip: who the members of Team 3 are, what our plans are once we get to the orphanage, etc. (The label for this post will be the first of Uganda and Change the Truth Chapter 4.)

I am also going to introduce you to a few of the children there. Melissa (on her visit in May) was kind enough to interview the young adults being sponsored in secondary school by Change the Truth. What I’ll be sharing is information she gleaned from those conversations. (Thank you, Melissa!)

One of the most interesting, enthusiastic and smartest young men I’ve ever met in Uganda is Nelson. Here is his story:

Nelson just turned 19. He has been at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage since 1999. He comes from the Muganda tribe.

Nelson with Team 2 member, Tom - 2008

Nelson was named after his father, who was a successful businessman in the Entebbe area. One day after arriving home from school, Nelson was told that his father had died suddenly. His mother was too upset to talk about the circumstances of the death, and even now, his mother still gets emotional when she talks about it. Nelson still does not know specifically how his father died. He was brought to SMK by his mother shortly after the death of his father. Nelson's mother and four other siblings moved with his grandmother to the small village of Mityana (one of his sister's - Sarah - is his twin). His mother is a farmer there. Nelson says he rarely sees her.

He is most proud of his studies, at which he excels. He states his talents as: thinking, writing, reading, chess, football, computer/technology. His future goals include: engineering, business (like his father) and or industrial arts or architecture.

His inspirations include determination, courage, belief in self, Change the Truth, perseverance and hope.

Nelson's other interests include games, music and making friends.

Nelson is what is known in Uganda as a "half orphan." Many of the children at SMK have one parent who is still alive. This parent, however, cannot afford to pay for the raising and education of his/her children or have no interest in doing so. Nelson has come to consider Rosemary, the director, his mother.