Ruth

Ruth is an orphan. Her parents both died in 1999: first she lost her father to cancer, then her mother shortly afterwards to Aids. At 17, she cannot talk about her parents without a tremulous sorrow. She lived with her auntie and cousins in Nansana but she had to move in with her cousin in so that she could come to school in Buloba:

“It is difficult living with my cousin. But I would live anywhere so that I could study here.”

“The life at this school is different from other schools. The way the school was built is very nice; the fees are not too much and the head master can listen to those who are poor; they provide lunch unlike other schools.”

“If I could change one thing in my life, I would bring my parents back. It is really very difficult to live without parents.”

Asked which one thing she would change in Uganda, Ruth replied: “One thing is not enough. There are many things which really hurt people.”