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I went back to school despite all the unfavorable circumstances and challenges I had

My name is Margret Ochwee. I am 10 years old. I am from Nanyidik Village where I live with my mother and my other 6 siblings (3 boys and 3 girls).

After my father died, during the terrible cattle raids two years ago, my uncles took over everything including the cattle we had. My two brothers were taken along to work as shepherds. Since then, my mother has been the one taking care of us. Her source of livelihood is mainly selling firewood and charcoal burning.

The first time my mother attended the mobilization meeting against child labour, she stopped me from helping her sell charcoal and firewood. She told me to join the motivation centre and since it is within the village.

But my uncles kept beating my mother for always advocating and talking about taking all her children to school. Some times she had no choice and gave up on us, so I still found my way back to child labour, until I told my grandmother who now supported everything about my school dreams.

I now stay with my grandmother in another kraal which is about 4 kilometers from the centre, but I walk every day. Being a child withdrawn from child labour, I have liked the way teachers at the motivation centre handle children with different needs. I can now write my name and read all the letters of the alphabet. I want to study so hard and become a teacher to teach other young children in Nanyidik village

Quick facts

WNCB (Work: No Child's Business) is a project being carried out in 6 countries, i.e. Cote d'ivoire, Mali, Uganda, Jordan, India, and Vietnam

Participating organizations in Uganda

Lead implementing partner:
SCL Coalition (Hivos) with partners UNATU (Uganda National Teachers Union), NRDO-U (Nascent Research and Development Organization Uganda), EWAD (Environmental Women in Action for Development), and Save the Children.

Supporting partner:
UNICEF

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