Walk in the shoes of Goretti

For a girl growing up in Uganda, life isn't easy. This photo series follows one of School for Life's first students - the sweet and shy Goretti. Goretti's story is typical to many Ugandan girls who live in poverty-stricken areas of Uganda. 

Goretti starts her day early, waking around 5am and walks for over an hour to fetch water before walking to school.  

Goretti starts her day early, waking around 5am and walks for over an hour to fetch water before walking to school.  

At 13 years-old Goretti would most likely be in High school in Australia, but at School for Life she's currently in Grade 5. This is common for a lot of students in Uganda due to them starting their education late because prior to School for Li…

At 13 years-old Goretti would most likely be in High school in Australia, but at School for Life she's currently in Grade 5. This is common for a lot of students in Uganda due to them starting their education late because prior to School for Life opening there wasn't a school suitable for Goretti to attend. Sadly, for many girls in Uganda, education is not a priority, and educating boys in a family takes precedence. Girls usually stay at home to work, and early pregnancies around the age of 14 is common. The average Ugandan girl has six children by the time she is 25. 

Goretti's favourite subject at school is social studies. She hopes to one day be a pilot in Uganda - a dream which can only be reached with a good education and the support of the School for Life community.

Goretti's favourite subject at school is social studies. She hopes to one day be a pilot in Uganda - a dream which can only be reached with a good education and the support of the School for Life community.

At School for Life Goretti enjoys lessons from teachers of the highest quality, who are attracted to School for Life because we provide them with training, accommodation and three meals a day. Our cook's specialties include posho (maize bread) and b…

At School for Life Goretti enjoys lessons from teachers of the highest quality, who are attracted to School for Life because we provide them with training, accommodation and three meals a day. Our cook's specialties include posho (maize bread) and beans, matooke (cooked banana mash) and ground nuts, or rice and peas. Goretti also had access to high quality healthcare via a nurse we have at school to treat common illnesses such as typhoid, malaria and diarrhea. 

After a busy day at school Goretti starts the long journey home, sharing stories from her day with her fellow School for Life friends.

After a busy day at school Goretti starts the long journey home, sharing stories from her day with her fellow School for Life friends.

Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house with four rooms. Goretti has one brother who doesn't live with her. When Goretti was younger she moved in with her Aunt and Uncle, because her parents could no longer look after he…

Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house with four rooms. Goretti has one brother who doesn't live with her. When Goretti was younger she moved in with her Aunt and Uncle, because her parents could no longer look after her. 

Goretti's aunt prepares all the meals for her big family from this small outdoor hut. On the day we visited she was cooking beans and cassava for dinner, a staple meal for Ugandans.

Goretti's aunt prepares all the meals for her big family from this small outdoor hut. On the day we visited she was cooking beans and cassava for dinner, a staple meal for Ugandans.

Goretti's uncle is a farmer. He keeps two cows and two goats on a small paddock next to his house, where he also grows crops which he sells in the local village to make a small income for his family.

Goretti's uncle is a farmer. He keeps two cows and two goats on a small paddock next to his house, where he also grows crops which he sells in the local village to make a small income for his family.

Goretti's home is a simple structure surrounded by her uncle's crops. The yellow containers behind are a constant sight in rural Uganda as they're used to carry water from a well. This can be a long journey for many children to carry many litres of …

Goretti's home is a simple structure surrounded by her uncle's crops. The yellow containers behind are a constant sight in rural Uganda as they're used to carry water from a well. This can be a long journey for many children to carry many litres of water on their backs each day.

Goretti changes out of her school uniform once she returns home. This is the room Goretti and her cousins sleep in.

Goretti changes out of her school uniform once she returns home. This is the room Goretti and her cousins sleep in.

Goretti on the bed she shares with her cousins each night.

Goretti on the bed she shares with her cousins each night.

Chores begin after school when Goretti herds her uncle's cows and goats to be closer to home for the evening.

Chores begin after school when Goretti herds her uncle's cows and goats to be closer to home for the evening.

Sometimes the walk to find the cattle is long, and very tiring after a long day at school.

Sometimes the walk to find the cattle is long, and very tiring after a long day at school.

Goretti and her neighbours smile for the camera as they go out to collect water from their local well. The children - boys and girls - keep their hair cut short to stop worms, ticks and lice. 

Goretti and her neighbours smile for the camera as they go out to collect water from their local well. The children - boys and girls - keep their hair cut short to stop worms, ticks and lice. 

Goretti's favourite thing is her Teddy called Laeticia. She carries the raggedy teddy around with pride as it is her only possession. Her only toy. After Goretti finishes her chores she heads home to eat the dinner her aunt has prepared and sta…

Goretti's favourite thing is her Teddy called Laeticia. She carries the raggedy teddy around with pride as it is her only possession. Her only toy. After Goretti finishes her chores she heads home to eat the dinner her aunt has prepared and start her homework by candlelight.

Goretti's family believe education is a priority, and without School for Life and the support of our donors Goretti would not have the freedom and opportunity that education brings. School for Life will encourage and support Goretti on her path to becoming a pilot. In Uganda 70% of children won't finish their primary education, but thanks to the generous School for Life community Goretti is not included in this statistic. 

Please give generously this Christmas to help us educate 160 more students just like Goretti.

All images by Sumy Sadurni

Success Stories
Goretti

Sweet and shy Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house in the local village. When Goretti was younger, she moved in with her aunt and uncle because her parents could no longer look after her. She was one of our first students at Katuuso Primary, starting in 2011 when she was just 4 years old. Now, Goretti is in Senior One at Mbazzi High School, and is relishing the honour of being a high school student in her community - something that is taken for granted in Australia, but in Uganda, represents freedom and opportunity. Goretti also loves attending School for Life because she hopes to one day become a pilot in Uganda - a dream which she knows can only be reached with the help of a good education.

Violah

Violah has been at School for Life since since she was six years old. Sadly, Violah has experienced hardship no child should ever deal with. Her Dad passed away three years ago, leaving her Mum without the financial means to support her family - so she left Violah and her siblings with their elderly grandmother. Every day, Violah has to wake up at 5am to fetch water, cook meals and make sure that her younger sisters are properly looked after. Then she walks half an hour to get to school. Despite this adversity, Violah has flourished at school and has made many friends. She loves that School for Life is "helping me to build a future". After finishing school, Violah hopes to become a teacher to help other children.

Umar

Umar is one of our best performing students at Mbazzi Riverside High School - but life has not always been easy for Umar. His father abandoned the family in 2015, leaving his mother to struggle to support her five children on her own. School for Life has provided Umar with opportunities that may never else have eventuated for him. Umar begun his journey with School for Life at Katuuso Primary School, where his academic ability was quickly revealed. Now, he is a thriving member of our Senior 1 class and a formidable wing on the football team. With a love for mathematics, Umar is set on studying electronic engineering after finishing his senior studies - a goal which he is the first to admit is now within reach thanks to the skills and resources provided to him by School for Life.

Rose Nambooze

Rose is a 32‐year‐old single mother of one. She started working with SFL in 2013, after taking part in our tailoring training program. Prior to working with us, she was unemployed and living in her father's home helping to care for her father, who had cataracts, and his farm.
Thanks to her full time employment, Rose was able to save enough money to pay for an eye operation and restore her father's sight, allowing him to return to work as a mechanic. Now, Rose has moved into her own home and no longer relies on her father financially. 

Joseph

Joseph is one of our Special Needs teachers at Katuuso. After surviving a severe case of malaria at age four, he was left permanently deaf. He was raised by his single mother and attended a nursery school for the handicapped and later transferred to a school for the Deaf in Kampala. He eventually mastered sign language and pursued a university degree in education. Joseph decided to become a teacher so that he could give the gift of education to others who are hearing impaired.

Teddy Namatovu

Teddy is a participant in the Kumi Tailoring Program and four of her five children attend Katuuso Primary School. She and her husband farm two acres of land, which supplies fluctuating revenue. Participation in the Kumi Tailoring Project has secured income to reliably pay for school fees, nutritious meals and renovations to the family home. Teddy has gained a great deal of self-esteem from her ability to support her family and she takes pride in independently financing the education of all five children. Teddy has also been working on her numeracy and administration skills. She was appointed Treasurer of the tailoring group and will be responsible for keeping records of their savings.

Flaviah Nassaazi

Flaviah Nassaazi started working at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School in 2011. Prior to cooking at the school, she and her husband were subsistence farmers. They worked tirelessly for small yields and minimal income to support their family. Flaviah's cooking job not only enables her to pay school fees for her children, but she has also invested in a local barbershop business. She is now passing her cooking skills onto her eldest son Frank, who has also joined the school's cooking staff. Flaviah and her husband attend the adult literacy classes offered weekly at the school. Her English and reading have improved immensely, as well as her confidence.

Rachel

In 2010, Rachel began as a cleaner at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School. She was working to save money to study to be a teacher at University. Thanks to Barrie and Simone Goldsmith, her dream of studying came true and she is now fully qualified.