nicky

Along with the forty fabulous banana fiber dolls (more of which will be featured here on the blog soon) paintings and drawings by the children from St. Mary Kevin Orphanage will also take the stage at the June 25th CTT fundraiser.

Nicholas was one of the first children I met during my initial journey to the orphanage in 2006. He was quiet and kind of somber. He was tall for his age and very lanky. He and I took a quick liking to one another. In his broken English, he told me about the day the LRA rebels burst into his family’s home in northern Uganda and changed everything. His parents were killed, and he and his siblings had to find a way to begin again.

It was clear to me from the start that Nicholas was smart and resourceful. His gentle spirit and hesitant, but winning smile stuck with me, and he was one of the first kids to eagerly greet me when I returned to SMK in 2007. Since then, we have grown close. I have watched him blossom into a handsome young man, who at age 13 is making his mark as a strong student and talented artist, musician and dancer. He goes by “Nicky” now. He is a doting big brother and a friend to all. He is kind and has a fun-loving spirit. His English is impeccable.


He adores Michael Jackson and does an unbelievable impersonation of him. His moonwalk at the talent show this past December brought the house down!

At the top of his class, Nicky recently began Senior 1 (high school) and is being sponsored by Change the Truth. He wants to become a doctor.

I think of Nicky every day. You would too, if you knew him.

I’m aware of at least one collector of his artwork (besides me) in Kansas City. There may be some spirited bidding on his painting at the auction in June!