Bosco’s Story
In northern Uganda, 1.8 million people were forced to flee their homes during a vicious civil war that raged for twenty years. Thousands of families are living in camps, many of which are overcrowded, dirty and dangerous. Food and water are scarce and health care and sanitation is poor. Children are the worst affected – and for many of them, the camps are the only homes they have ever known.
Bosco Oryema (14) is a quiet boy living with HIV. Bosco and his family were forced from their home when soldiers burned down their village. Many people were killed or kidnapped. Bosco knows that his family is lucky, even though they lost their home and possessions; they escaped with their lives.
Bosco and his family now live in a one room hut in a camp near their farm in Padar, northern Uganda. Although peace is returning, they feel safer living in the camp but return to their home each day to farm their land. Life is improving with the help of Trócaire’s partners who have given Bosco’s parents a goat and farming tools. They now grow enough food to feed their family and by selling some of their produce and milk from the goat, have increased their weekly income to 10,500 shillings (€11).
Bosco and his sisters go to school every day from 7am to 5pm. “My favourite subject is social studies and since we received a solar lamp from one of Trócaire’s partners I can study at night” Bosco told us. His parents think it might be safe to return home soon and hope that with their new income, Bosco and his sisters can stay in school.
In Uganda, Trócaire is helping thousands of families like Bosco’s. With our local partners we are working to improve people’s lives in the camps, providing the support they need to return home. This includes assisting families to construct homes and providing seeds, tools, goats and agricultural support to help people produce food and generate an income. We are also working to restore peace to communities shattered by conflict. Please take part in this year’s Trócaire 24 Hour Fast and help us to continue our life-changing work. In just 24 hours you can make a difference that will last a lifetime for families like Bosco’s.
