Agnes is sixteen years old and in Senior Four.  She currently boards at Awegys School and, when at home, lives in her father’s house with her siblings.  Her stepsister, Jackline K., is also a student with Outside the Dream.  Agnes’s mother died in 2004 from cerebral malaria.  Agnes writes that as her mother was dying, “she looked like an HIV/AIDS patient because of her symptoms.”  After her mother died, Agnes’s father left the family to live with her stepmother.  He now visits only on weekends.

“I would like to become a doctor in order to treat the ever increasing disease in our country, especially AIDS,” Agnes writes.  She dreams of attending university and enjoys studying religion in school, writing that it teaches her “how someone should live in this environment or society.”  In her free time, Agnes loves playing netball, visiting friends, and listening to music.

STUDENT ID: 0002

Ann was born in 1995 and is in Senior One.  She lives at home with her mother and attends Awegys School during the day.  She enjoys playing netball and volleyball, reading, and listening to the radio.  Her favorite subject in school is biology because, as she writes, “it has good scientific names and I want to be a scientist.”  Ann hopes to attend university and become a nurse or an engineer.  STUDENT ID: 0021

Ali is eighteen years old and in Senior Three.  His mother died in 1998 of HIV/AIDS and his father passed away in 2005.  He has eight siblings, several of whom live in the village with his grandmother.  When not at school, Ali lives with his stepsister at home, where he makes mud bricks to earn money to support himself.

Ali dreams of becoming a marine so that he can "fight crime and enjoy life in [the] water."  He loves playing volleyball and listening to music.  At school, his least favorite subject is Math--he prefers English.  “English is interesting," he writes, promising to "study hard" in his classes to achieve his goals.

STUDENT ID: 0012

Brian is fifteen years old and in Senior One.  He currently boards at Awegys and, when at home, lives with his aunt.  Brian one of five children; his parents separated in 2001 and his mother left with Brian’s sisters.  Brian’s father used to drive a taxi but stopped when he developed back problems.  Brian now relies on his aunt for support.

Brian is a sweet and soft-spoken boy.  His favorite class is English, and in his free time he likes playing football (soccer) and volleyball, and visiting friends.  He loves taking photos with a camera and has a natural talent for photography.  Brian dreams of attending university and one day becoming a professional athlete. 

STUDENT ID: 0009

Brenda is fifteen years old and in Senior One.  She currently boards at Awegys School and, when at home, lives with her father and stepmother.  Her parents separated when she was young; Brenda has not seen her mother for years and does not know where she is. Brenda finds life difficult at home and writes, “I would like to see my mother.  I would like to be loved.  I would like to be cared for.”

Despite the hardships she has faced, Brenda is playful and almost always wears a smile on her face.  In her free time, Brenda likes playing sports, dancing, and singing.  Her favorite subjects in school are biology and chemistry.  “I want to join university...and become a doctor so I can treat people,” Brenda writes.   

STUDENT ID: 0026

Brenda is eighteen years old and in Senior Three.  She currently boards at Awegys School.  When at home, she lives with her sister, her brother-in-law, and their children.  Brenda’s father passed away from HIV/AIDS in 1993.  Ten years later, her mother died from the disease, as well.

At school, Brenda enjoys learning about agriculture.  She also loves to sing, read, and cook.  “I want to continue to the university,” Brenda writes.  “You have to read very hard...I want to become a nurse to treat sick people.”  She adds, “My sister and her husband were finding it very difficult to pay my school  but I am happy now that I have a sponsor...Thank you!”

STUDENT ID: 0004

Christopher was born in 1992 and is in Senior Four.  He boards at Awegys School and when at home lives with his mom and sister.  Christopher’s father passed away years ago from HIV/AIDS.  Two of Christopher’s siblings and three of his stepsiblings also passed away.  “My mother is often sick,” he writes, “and she has no income.  We survive on what relatives give us and friends give us.”

Christopher is a talented artists and writer who dreams of creating art for a living.  He wants to attend Makerere University in Uganda.  “I humbly welcome any help for my family,” he writes.  “Thank you very much.”

STUDENT ID: 0003