All the teachers of the Destiny Preparatory School. Left to right top row: Zawadi, Winnie, Eseri, Hangson, Jeniffer, Maxwell, Christine, Robert, Pelusi. Bottom row: Esther, Joy, Jovanale, Josephine, Robson, and Annet.
Robson, the head teacher of the school, sitting at his desk.
“Some responsibilities of the head teacher include monitoring academic progress of the school, to oversee the discipline of the school, and also at the same time to mobilize the parents. Telling parents the importance of bringing their children to school rather than keeping them at home.
The head teacher should also make sure meetings of staff and parents are called at least twice every term.
I’ve chosen to work here because I’ve been one of the vision bearers of the school. We had a vision of this school together at Kisagazi church. So I decided to become a partner. The school pay teachers well. The director (Pastor Moses) has good leadership skills which make the school run in a desirable direction.
The school was purely open by only 1 person, that is Bishop Moses Okumu. Many of these things are possible because only one person makes the final decision. Not only in his favor, but in the favor of the school and his conviction.
The community congratulates and loves the school for it’s efforts to educate children through sponsorship program, which otherwise most of them could not afford.”
Esther making pancakes that the children can purchase and eat during recess. The pancakes are made from cassava (tapioca) flour, baking soda, and water.
Dalson is the gate keeper for Destiny School and KPC. He has worked here for two years.
“I come from Rukungiri district. I’m a born again. Concerning occupation, I am a secondary teacher. But employment is a problem. I taught like, ten years just in private schools.”
Henry, 27, born and raised in Kasese.
Henry works with the orphan boys from the Destiny Preparatory school as their patron. He is the adult who stays with them overnight at the school.
“I am there to keep them, to teach them discipline, how to pray, how to behave. When they have no one to watch them they misbehave badly and fight but when they hear Henry is here they cool. Most of them change. They come with bad habits and behaviors and change completely. Those who come and don't know how to pray they learn.
One of the challenges I face is those who come from very poor families. Some come without beds or even without clothes. We need support for clothes and sleeping mattresses. They sleep at the school now but during holidays they have to leave to stay out with guardians because they have no permanent housing. That’s why we are trying to build them dorms.
For the US, help us so we can construct a permanent home so that even when there are holidays or times the school is not good for staying they will have a place to stay. We will be able to teach in a godly manner and to connect with them. Connecting is very important because we can know them and they can know us.” (the new girls dorm has been constructed but a boys dorm is still needed)
Gorit, 37.
Gorit works at both the church and the Destiny School. She has not slept at her own home for three years now because of the work she does. She has four children, a 22 year old girl who just had a baby, a 20 year old boy, a 15 year old boy, and a 10 year old girl who lives in Jinja with her father.
“At the school, I’m the matron for the (orphan) girls. I take care of the children to make sure they bathe and to encourage them with the word of God. I teach them how a girl must be. To learn how to talk to people, not abusing them. Not to admire other people’s things. I help clean for them. I sleep with the young ones so I can wake them to go su-su so they do not sleep in urinated things. Early in the morning, before they have class, I have to give them something to eat. And then again at lunch hour. I make sure I have washed their uniforms so they can go and be smart. (Smart is the Ugandan way of saying well dressed or “nice”). When they come home from school I check their books to see if they have any homework. If they do I make sure they do it. I go with them to church. When they get ready to go for holiday I encourage them to work hard in their relatives homes so they can see the children are good and obedient and helpful.
Obviously I am like their mom. I take them like my own children.
I thank God because I pray for the grace so then I can do all of it. If it were just me myself, I could not manage. But I pray hard and the Holy Spirit encourages me. Because it is not easy to take care of children who come from different homes with their own ways. Prayer and fasting help me. Me myself, I am an example to them. I tell them my story. For me growing up it was not easy. I faced many challenges. I too grew without a mother and father. To get this job of caring for the children was a prayer request. On my list my last request was I need to be the mother of a nation. I was surprised when the director called me and said ‘Gorret, I want you to be in the orphanage caring for the children.’ I was surprised. I said ‘Oh, God. You always hear the prayer.’ It was the last thing in my requests but the first to be answered. I never asked for the job or applied, but I was praying for it. I said to God ‘If you ever make me rich I want to take care of the people who are suffering. Who does not have help.’ That is what I always prayed to God. Because I remember how it was. And I don’t like to see a person who is passing through that kind of situation. But I know God is there.”
After sharing this, tears started to well up in Gorret’s eyes. She tried to wipe them away but they kept coming. Just a few at first but soon the tears started to stream down her face.
“Why are you crying?” I asked her. She said, “Just, I ask myself, who am I to find myself. I am here. And I am under God’s care. When I left my job I asked myself ‘Where are you going?’ and my dad called and sad ‘You, Gorret, come.’ I said, ‘Daddy I cannot because your home has problems.’ What I need, I want to be under God’s care. I stayed here. My dad said ‘How will you get rent? Money for rent?’ I said ‘God’s there, He will care for me.’ So I sold my land and the money was taking care of me slowly by slowly. I thank God because I’ve never been chased out of my house for not paying rent. So when I got this chance for the children I used the money but the time reached when that money was gone. But I know God will care for them, I try to pay their school fees. I thank God because I think he sees what I do. I see the grace of God upon my own children. They study! They demand a lot of money but I say no. Even the headmaster of the secondary school called me demanding money and I said ‘Headmaster, don’t mind, God is there.’ I believe God is there.”
The patron (Henry) and the matron (Gorit) sitting together.
Teacher Hangson teaching math to P 7.
Jovanale, 25.
He is a teacher at the Destiny School. In this photo, he was working on his notes for class. In the background you can see his motorcycle which is a very common mode transportation in Uganda. When I asked him why he is a teacher he said
“Have love for the school, have love for the country. We are helping children here. And also I am developing my profession.”
Maxwell, 29, from Kasese.
Maxwell is a teacher at the Destiny School. His tribe is from the north but he was born in Kasese. He moved to Kampala when he was in primary 4 and finished school there. Afterward he moved to Kasese to attend Bugerma University to receive his diploma (degree). He started working at the Destiny School in 2013.
Margaret sweeping the children’s dining room.
Scovia washing dishes to be used for the morning porridge.
Esther smiling in the teacher’s office.
Teachers at the Destiny School hanging out in the office. From left to right- Esther teaches English, Maxwell teaches integrated science, Hangson teaches mathematics, and Jovanale teaches religious education.