From overcoming poverty and disability to becoming national leaders, changemakers and professionals in various disciplines, these remarkable individuals are proof that early support can spark lifelong transformation. In this special feature, we revisit the journeys of ChildFund alumni whose lives were forever changed by the care and opportunity they received in childhood. Their stories are powerful reminders of the lasting impact of investing in children. Read on to find out where they are now and how they are changing the world.

Julius’ journey of unseen strength

Julius Kamya lost his sight as a child after a delayed response to a rare eye cancer, retinoblastoma. Abandoned by his school and subjected to questionable traditional remedies, he faced early rejection and despair.

But everything changed when he joined a school for children with visual impairment, a turning point made possible through support from ChildFund Uganda.

From that moment on, Julius rose above every limitation imposed on him, educational, social and professional.

He shattered barriers as the first visually impaired student to study Mass Communication at Makerere University and built an impressive career spanning journalism, advocacy and policy.

Along the way, he challenged deep-seated biases, survived heartbreaking losses and made groundbreaking contributions to disability rights across Africa.

Today, Julius is a family man and a national leader, serving as Commissioner at the Equal Opportunities Commission. He is also a board member of ChildFund Uganda.

“Imagine if I had been left in Kayunga, what would I be today? But someone stepped in and now I am a responsible citizen contributing to my country. Supporting children with disabilities may seem like a long journey, but the return on that investment is life-changing for them and the communities they go on to serve.”

He has defied medical odds and societal expectations, offering inspiration to anyone who has ever been told “you can’t.” His journey has been one of vision, grit and the power of opportunity.

The Prosecutor fighting for justice for all

Raised in a humble village in Kibuku District, John Boniface Kulu Idambi was among the first children enrolled in a ChildFund-supported program that gave him access to education, healthcare and hope for a better future.

His journey began with a chance encounter with a foreign visitor and blossomed into a life-changing sponsorship. Despite health challenges and financial setbacks, John never gave up on his dream to become a lawyer. His perseverance paid off when he secured a scholarship from ChildFund to complete his law degree at Makerere University.

Today, he serves as Uganda’s Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, handling complex criminal cases and mentoring the next generation of legal professionals.

One challenge he often encounters is witness absence, which can lead to cases collapsing. “It’s heartbreaking to see a criminal walk free because there’s no witness to testify,” he says. “And as much as we defend victims, criminals also have rights. Sometimes, during trials, defence lawyers ask inappropriate questions. A rape victim might be asked, ‘Didn’t you enjoy it?’ Those are tough moments, but we now object and ensure the victim is protected.”

He also serves as a board member of ChildFund Uganda.

Heron nurses’ patients with a smile

Heron’s story began in Buwuda village, Kamuli District, where she grew up in a humble home with several siblings. Life was far from easy. Her parents, subsistence farmers, relied on a small piece of land for their livelihood. 

Her early life was marked by hardship, with education and healthcare often out of reach. But everything changed when she was enrolled in ChildFund’s sponsorship program in 2001. She was able to go to school, obtain quality healthcare, among other necessities of life.

Guided by the belief that education could transform her future, she not only became a nurse and midwife but is now a frontline health worker supporting mothers and children living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to her hospital work, she runs a drug shop to support her continued studies. She wants to advance to the level of a doctor.

“It is my way of ensuring I can provide even more comprehensive care to patients who need it the most,” Heron credits ChildFund for not only elevating her status in the community but also enabling her to do what she loves the most.

“I am an important person in the community because of ChildFund. I’m also giving back to the community by inspiring many young people that are hopeless to study and work hard so that they can fend for themselves and their families,” she concludes.

How Erisi charted a future in health and entrepreneurship

When Erisi was enrolled in the ChildFund sponsorship program in 2003, her family was struggling to get by as small-scale farmers in Kamuli District.

With ChildFund’s support, they joined a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), received agricultural training and maize seedlings. “These resources helped us grow our farming efforts, enabling us to buy livestock and eventually expand our small retail shop into a wholesale business.

Throughout her education, Erisi benefited from her sponsor’s support, which covered her school fees and lifted the financial weight off her family.

In 2013, ChildFund extended additional financial support that bolstered the family’s income-generating activities. With her parents’ backing, funded by rice farming and the wholesale business, Erisi pursued a course in medical records and health informatics, completing her studies in early 2024. She has since enrolled at Mildmay School of Health Sciences in Entebbe for a diploma in public health.

Now 25, Erisi is not only carving a path in healthcare but also building her future as an entrepreneur. She dreams of opening a pharmacy and a boutique to create multiple income streams and hopes to buy land and construct her own home.

“I can’t imagine what life would have been like without your help,” she says, commending ChildFund for the role it played in shaping her future.”

Paul – the skilled electrician and youth mentor

Enrolled in ChildFund’s sponsorship program in 2006, Paul was able to complete his education up to Senior Four. Through the organization’s local partner, JIACOFE, he gained valuable skills in career guidance, financial literacy and vocational training, which helped him choose a path in electrical installation.

After completing a six-month course at Nile Vocational Technical Institute, Paul received startup tools that enabled him to begin working. In 2020, he joined UMEME as an apprentice under the Government’s rural electrification program.

He now offers electrical services in his community, earns a stable income, supports his family and saves regularly through a local youth group. “Securing a qualification in electrical installation, thanks to my sponsor, has changed my life,” says Paul. “I can now take care of my family and plan for the future.”

Paul also mentors seven youth through the Nile Vocational outreach program, charging a modest fee that further supplements his income. “When I train these young people, I see myself in them. I want to be the person I needed when I was just starting out,” he shares. Paul has also invested in a popcorn business and plans to open an electronics shop in his village.

How Judith’s childhood struggles shaped her teaching career

Judith Akumu endured a tough childhood marked by poverty, long walks to school and household chores that left her exhausted in class. Her life changed when she joined ChildFund’s sponsorship program at the age of nine, receiving meals at school, a uniform and the chance to discover her talents through sports, music and leadership opportunities.

Sponsorship not only gave her confidence but also a sense of responsibility, especially when she was gifted livestock through ChildFund’s livelihood program.

Today, Judith is a dedicated primary school teacher with 13 years of experience, inspired by the support she once received. She has advanced her studies and dreams of becoming a university lecturer, while also guiding her younger siblings to succeed.

Grateful to her sponsor from Sweden, Judith says sponsorship shaped her life and career: “ChildFund made me who I am. I was proud to be a sponsored child and I am forever grateful.”

The teacher that sponsorship built

Christine’s journey to the classroom was not without challenges. She grew up in a polygamous family of nearly 60 children in Busia District and lost her father, the family’s breadwinner, at just 10 years old.

Life quickly became a struggle until her sponsor stepped in. “The monthly gift of sh12,000 kept food on the table and made sure we stayed in school,” she recalls.

Sponsorship also gave her vital life-skills training and opportunities to lead, including representing children on the Youth Advisory Council.

With her sponsor’s steady support, Christine completed school, an achievement that set her apart from many peers who dropped out to marry young. She went on to pursue her dream of teaching and has spent the past 15 years teaching children in her community.

Today, Christine is a wife and a mother of three who still finds meaning in the classroom.