Editor's Note: The following story is taken from a recent letter to our friends and donors.
It's a new year and a new start for many children in our holistic care program. One of these is Jimmy, who has been through a lot in his 13 years. He is from Apac in northern Uganda and is very skilled at playing the adungu (a stringed Ugandan instrument similar to a harp). He joined our program just a few months ago.
Here's a brief version of Jimmy's story, in his own words:
My name is Jimmy Ayo. I play the adungu. It's my best instrument. My father taught me how to play when I was seven years old. On February 21, 2004, my father was helping me with my homework while my mother, brothers, and sisters were away visiting famity. Ten LRA rebels started knocking on our door. We ran out the back but the rebels chased us. My father and I split up. I hid in the bush. That was the last I saw of him. The rebels caught and killed him. I stayed in the bush for two days with nothing to drink or eat. When the rebels were gone, I found some cassava in the garden to eat. After my mother returned, she found me unconscious on the floor of our house.
Since I joined Empower African Children (EAC). I have been happy to play the adungu. I hope to become a musician. I also want to go to school and become a lawyer or a judge. I look forward to studying hard. I want to thank EAC for saving me from the problems I had. I want to thank them for empowering me.
Jimmy's story is far from unique. There are many children in Uganda with similar backgrounds and potential just waiting to be unlocked.
Would you help children like Jimmy today with your monthly gift of $2S, $50, $100, or more? Become an Empowerment Partner! Your gift provides basic needs, including well balanced meals and medical care books, education supplies, the guidance of counselors, and education in the arts.
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