Back to All Voices
Journeying Out Of Child Labour
Posted on: 7th January, 2026 Story from: Wonuga Emmanuel Tag: Hackathon 8 min read
Wonuga Emmanuel
Wonuga Emmanuel’s story is an outcome from the ACCEL Africa project that took place in 2022, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
View
My name is Wonuga Emmanuel. I am 16 years old, I come from a mountainous village in Sironko District found in Eastern Uganda. I am the second last born of ten children from three different mothers. When my father brought another woman into our home, everything changed and he could no longer provide for all of us. Some of my sisters were forced into early marriage. Others until today, exchange labour for cash in our village just to survive and this is how my childhood became filled with work.
The memory of that heap of firewood resting on my little feet and legs remains so fresh as if it just happened. I was coming down the hill, exhausted, when my strength gave out. The heavy heap of firewood slipped and crushed my leg. The pain was beyond imagination for a short moment. I screamed for help, again and again, but no one heard me. I was completely alone. Holding back tears, I forced myself up, lifted the firewood, and limped home. As if the pain I had was not enough, my father’s words shattered me. Without asking what had happened, he shouted, “that is your problem, you didn’t walk like a man.” His words cut deeper than the injury. In that moment, I felt my life collapse inside me. I felt worthless, and even suicidal. I wondered why I had ever been born.
From early years, my whole life rotated around firewood. Firewood became a sister of some sort. Every morning, school day or not, I woke up before the sun, without food, and walked long distances into the bushes to fetch bundles of firewood that were bigger than my whole body. I walked through thorny bushes, crossed rivers, and climbed steep hills with that heavy load on my head. I remember the cold. I remember the hunger. I remember asking myself, “Are my parents alive? If they are, why am I suffering like this?”
I liked to study, even when I was physically hurt, I struggled and went to school. Unfortunately, due to the burden of work, I could manage to attend school only twice a week. I had no hope, and I was about to give up, but in 2022, something changed. Nascent Research and Development Organization Uganda (Nascent RDO-U) came to our village. They were teaching the community about child labour and its dangers. I stood up and told my story. That was the first time anyone saw my pain, not as laziness, but as abuse. Nascent RDO-U taught me a lot of life skills. I now know myself better, I love myself, and I believe in myself. This was a time when I was still about 14 years, and I was enrolled in a small community mechanics garage through their support. This is where I started earning some money as I learned to repair motorcycles. This made me proud for the first time in my life.
Through the earnings from the garage, I saved and returned to school. Today I am in Senior Three paying most of my own school fees from my mechanic work where I continue to work as I study. Sometimes my parents contribute something small here and there and I am more focused now in building my own future.
Recently, in my village, Nascent RDO-U mobilized young people to developed solutions to eliminate child labour, they called it “HACKATHON”. I was happy to join and we created a group called “United Youth Hook” because we believe we can “hook” child labour and end it for good. I became the speaker of the group and we mobilized elders, met community leaders, went to the subcounty, and even received a certificate from the local government. We now work legally and confidently! Our work was noticed by the district, and they even announced us on the radio as a “medicine” for child labour.
I never believed a boy who once carried firewood in pain would one day speak to a distinguished audience on this platform. I feel honored and thank you for this opportunity, not only to listen to me, but to know that the voice of young people can still be heard.
What Changes Are Still Needed in My Community?
In my sub-county, there is no secondary school. Children walk long distances, and many never make it to Secondary school. Poverty and hunger force many children back into child labour, just like me in the past.
We need:
• better access to education,
• Better ways to teach communities about self-awareness and children’s rights,
• and programmes that give children hope, new skills and address poverty.
What is your Message to World Leaders and Donors?
If I could speak directly to world leaders, I would tell them: I am rooted in your struggle and our struggle to free us. I am ready to continue the work you began in my community, but we cannot do it alone without you. Your support has helped children like me return to school, gain skills, and find hope. Please do not stop. Invest more in ending child labour. Invest in education. Invest in young people and address poverty. When you give us knowledge, we use it to help our peers. We become stronger, more resilient and the sky becomes the limit.
What I Hope the Global Conference Will Achieve?
I hope this conference becomes a mirror where people see the mistakes, the gaps, and the opportunities and gain energy to make this world better for us and the future. I hope leaders leave this place inspired and re-committed to fighting child labour. I hope they create real actions so that no child feels the pain I felt in the cold mornings. I hope they remember that behind every statistic is a child like me.
What is your Dream?
My dream is to become rich, not for myself, but so I can help my community. I want to serve people. I want to be the reason another child is saved from child labour. I want to be the voice that tells someone, “Your life can change.” Because if a boy who once cried alone in the hills can stand on a world stage, then every child deserves that chance.
The memory of that heap of firewood resting on my little feet and legs remains so fresh as if it just happened. I was coming down the hill, exhausted, when my strength gave out. The heavy heap of firewood slipped and crushed my leg. The pain was beyond imagination for a short moment. I screamed for help, again and again, but no one heard me. I was completely alone. Holding back tears, I forced myself up, lifted the firewood, and limped home. As if the pain I had was not enough, my father’s words shattered me. Without asking what had happened, he shouted, “that is your problem, you didn’t walk like a man.” His words cut deeper than the injury. In that moment, I felt my life collapse inside me. I felt worthless, and even suicidal. I wondered why I had ever been born.
From early years, my whole life rotated around firewood. Firewood became a sister of some sort. Every morning, school day or not, I woke up before the sun, without food, and walked long distances into the bushes to fetch bundles of firewood that were bigger than my whole body. I walked through thorny bushes, crossed rivers, and climbed steep hills with that heavy load on my head. I remember the cold. I remember the hunger. I remember asking myself, “Are my parents alive? If they are, why am I suffering like this?”
I liked to study, even when I was physically hurt, I struggled and went to school. Unfortunately, due to the burden of work, I could manage to attend school only twice a week. I had no hope, and I was about to give up, but in 2022, something changed. Nascent Research and Development Organization Uganda (Nascent RDO-U) came to our village. They were teaching the community about child labour and its dangers. I stood up and told my story. That was the first time anyone saw my pain, not as laziness, but as abuse. Nascent RDO-U taught me a lot of life skills. I now know myself better, I love myself, and I believe in myself. This was a time when I was still about 14 years, and I was enrolled in a small community mechanics garage through their support. This is where I started earning some money as I learned to repair motorcycles. This made me proud for the first time in my life.
Through the earnings from the garage, I saved and returned to school. Today I am in Senior Three paying most of my own school fees from my mechanic work where I continue to work as I study. Sometimes my parents contribute something small here and there and I am more focused now in building my own future.
Recently, in my village, Nascent RDO-U mobilized young people to developed solutions to eliminate child labour, they called it “HACKATHON”. I was happy to join and we created a group called “United Youth Hook” because we believe we can “hook” child labour and end it for good. I became the speaker of the group and we mobilized elders, met community leaders, went to the subcounty, and even received a certificate from the local government. We now work legally and confidently! Our work was noticed by the district, and they even announced us on the radio as a “medicine” for child labour.
I never believed a boy who once carried firewood in pain would one day speak to a distinguished audience on this platform. I feel honored and thank you for this opportunity, not only to listen to me, but to know that the voice of young people can still be heard.
What Changes Are Still Needed in My Community?
In my sub-county, there is no secondary school. Children walk long distances, and many never make it to Secondary school. Poverty and hunger force many children back into child labour, just like me in the past.
We need:
• better access to education,
• Better ways to teach communities about self-awareness and children’s rights,
• and programmes that give children hope, new skills and address poverty.
What is your Message to World Leaders and Donors?
If I could speak directly to world leaders, I would tell them: I am rooted in your struggle and our struggle to free us. I am ready to continue the work you began in my community, but we cannot do it alone without you. Your support has helped children like me return to school, gain skills, and find hope. Please do not stop. Invest more in ending child labour. Invest in education. Invest in young people and address poverty. When you give us knowledge, we use it to help our peers. We become stronger, more resilient and the sky becomes the limit.
What I Hope the Global Conference Will Achieve?
I hope this conference becomes a mirror where people see the mistakes, the gaps, and the opportunities and gain energy to make this world better for us and the future. I hope leaders leave this place inspired and re-committed to fighting child labour. I hope they create real actions so that no child feels the pain I felt in the cold mornings. I hope they remember that behind every statistic is a child like me.
What is your Dream?
My dream is to become rich, not for myself, but so I can help my community. I want to serve people. I want to be the reason another child is saved from child labour. I want to be the voice that tells someone, “Your life can change.” Because if a boy who once cried alone in the hills can stand on a world stage, then every child deserves that chance.
Quick facts
Wonuga Emmanuel’s story is an outcome from the ACCEL Africa project that took place in 2022, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Last updated on: 7th January, 2026
Do you like this story? Click to share it on
