Isaac (by Geoff and Julie)

As happens on occasions during a team visit, we invite someone whom we know from our time in Uganda to share some thoughts about their life and work here or their connection to UgandAid. So it was that last night after dinner, a UgandAid graduate, Isaac Bogere, joined us in the Night Garden to share his journey as UGA sponsored student from the age of 15 with, as he said, "no hope" to a young man of nearly 24 years with qualifications and a bright and exciting future. 

He recalled how he was told that a group called UgandAid was to visit the local slum Saturday school run by Pastor Alfred at Macedonian Vision Africa (MVA) possibly to seek to sponsor those from the community like him. Although he had decided to give up on education, he went along. There he met Julie and Geoff who agreed to sponsor him through Senior 4 school. They also agreed to continue to sponsor him the following year if he was put forward for a place. In February 2016 Isaac started a 2 year course studying Building and Concrete Practice. So his journey began, and after completing his 2 year course as " best in the District" he asked if he could be sponsored at a different college for a Diploma in Civil Engineering because this was not available at NVI. After appropriate consultation with NVI, Julie and Geoff agreed to continue his sponsorship there. Before this could be completed, Covid 19 struck and his

course was suspended. However, recognising that he could help the poorest of the poor and disadvantaged people in his community he formed a registered charity which would allow him to avoid the restrictions of the curfew, he and 2 friends from his church founded Hope and Act Africa and started a food ministry for these people. In addition, he knew of a community in Mayuge, about 1 hour's drive away which was wholly for disabled, blind and other " helpless and hopeless people". This ministry continues now. 

Covid19 passed, colleges reopened and this year, Isaac will receive his Diploma in Civil Engineering also as the best in the District.

He is now planning to use his charity, Hope and Act Africa, to setup a pre-school for young poor children in his community so that they can begin to gain the basics of the education which has provided him with the opportunities he so nearly missed. 

Isaac is also a lay pastor in his church and intends to study at University to be become a fully accredited Pastor in due course.  

Nobody would dare think that he will not succeed. He is so full of praise for the opportunity which he has been given by UgandAid but at the end of the day, the credit is all due to his commitment and hard work. 

We are all so proud of him.

We have been invited by Isaac and his family as guests at his village and home on Saturday and we will post a further update about our time there asap!