James joined the HFL education programme in 2011. At the age of 10, he was the oldest of the 15 children to join us for those initial classes in Katanga. James has worked hard over the past eight years to gain an education in school, then vocational training, before now working in a local garage as a mechanic at 18.

1st Picture: James (back right) in 2011, before being sponsored into school by HFL, followed by James in 2013, in the school uniform of his new school.

We visited James at his work this week, to see how he has been managing over past months of restricted movement and work.

In the lead up to this conversation, we’ve started to see a steep (comparative) increase in cases as a country and, tragically, over the past 6-8 weeks, our first 33 related deaths. The conditions over the past six months have impacted everyone but most acutely those who were relying on a daily income with little savings. James parents and wider family are some of those who have particularly struggled at this time.

James has been a mechanic at this current garage, just a few minutes' walk from where he grew up, for the past year. This year has been an extension of his vocational training, not officially on the pay-roll but earning money ‘once in a while’ to help James and the other apprentices to take care of their ‘basic necessities’. Sometimes James, along with others, may not be officially paid for up to 3 months, but are able to still generate an income from customer tips.

Schooling standards in Uganda are largely dependent on the amount a family is able to pay for school fees. By the time we met James in 2011, he and his brother occasionally attended a local school with low school fees. They also occasionally took a term out of school if the money wasn’t there to pay.

“I vividly remember the day I got signed up [to be sponsored by HFL]. It was in the morning as I was getting ready to go to school when I was told to wait. I, with some other children, was taken to meet Uncle Mark and Megan. I had my school bag with books and a plate in it. Mark took out my plate and looked at it. Then Mark asked us, “Where were you going?”, “To school,” we responded. HFL later got me admission at a different school and they started paying my school fees.

“The education standard at [my previous school] was poor. It was so bad that when I sat the admission test for primary four [for the new school], I failed it and was instead admitted to primary two.”

James back and centre with his brother in 2014

School years are largely made up of children from different age groups, as abilities vary so much between them. So, at the age of 10 James joined a class with others aged 7 and 8. James stuck with it through the years but being an older student in primary school is hard.

“In my primary six, I felt fed up of formal school. I asked HFL if it was possible for them find me a garage where I could train as a motor vehicle mechanic because it was what I was passionate about and wanted to do. And HFL helped me find a garage to train me.

“If it was not for HFL, I would not have received the education I managed to receive because the school I was in before had a very low education standard. I am thankful for the clothes they always gave me when I almost had nothing to wear. I am thankful for the food they always gave me. And so much more.

“Because of my work as a mechanic, I was able to leave home and I now rent my own place where I stay. I am also able to buy myself whatever I need. And if there is something I need but I cannot afford it at that time, I can work and save money until I buy it. I was also promoted at the garage to manage the store where all the spare parts are kept.

Despite James moving out of his home, he still visits his family, offering a hand to them during this hard time. James has regularly bought his family food to help sustain the large family as his parents see a drop in income due to Covid.

“I am in touch with my family. And often, when there is a need at home or my mother is in need of money, I happily help to the extent that I can. I always share what I have with my family because when I do not, I feel guilty and lose my peace.”

James has progressed so much from when we first met him back in 2011. If you are able to sponsor the education of someone like James, so that they too may one day be in the position to earn an income, then please do be in contact. Sponsoring a child costs between £20-£25/month, depending on whether they are in primary or secondary school but we have many who contribute different amounts as they can afford.

James became a mechanic and is now able to help his family though lockdown