Child Sponsorship

Every morning, seven-year-old Judith Akumu would tie her dress, grab her books and dash out of her home in Dadira village, Busia. With no breakfast and a list of chores such as fetching water, digging in the garden, collecting firewood already completed, she would run to catch up with other children on the hour-long journey to school.

“We had to push ourselves to concentrate in class even when we were exhausted. But that was our reality,” she recalls.

Today, Judith stands at the front of a classroom as a Primary School teacher, a dream she nurtured as a little girl despite the odds stacked against her.

Her story changed the day she was enrolled in ChildFund’s sponsorship program. For the first time, Judith received porridge at school and a proper uniform. She was aged nine and in primary three at the time. “I remember receiving a long, purple uniform that I loved so much.” That support, she adds, “gave me the energy to keep learning.”

“ChildFund really changed my life. I doubt I would be a teacher if they hadn’t supported me. I love teaching young children because you can play with them, but they also follow instructions easily. When you teach them through play, they get motivated,” she says with a smile,”.

Beyond the classroom, ChildFund gave Judith the chance to discover her talents. She played netball, sang in school choirs, performed in music, dance and drama and even trained her peers. “Being under ChildFund made me proud. It gave me confidence,” she recalls.

Through the organisation’s livelihood program, Judith was gifted animals three times. “At that age, I was proud to own a cow. Everyone in the village referred to it as Judith’s cow. It made me feel responsible and valued,” she says.

Her sponsor from Sweden became a cherished part of her journey. “I loved interacting with my sponsor.

Now, with 13 years in the teaching profession, Judith dreams of becoming a university lecturer. She has since upgraded with a diploma in teaching and plans to pursue a degree and masters in the same field.

“Despite the challenges and little pay, I love being a teacher. You don’t grow old easily because you are always playing with children. It keeps you active and doing research,” she says.

Judith, Cecilia and Christine share a light moment shortly after the interview.

Being the second born in a family of nine, Judith also carried the responsibility of guiding her siblings. “We would move together to school, but if they were late, I would stop them at the gate and say, You are late. They learned quickly not to assume I would bail them out just because I was their sister,” she says with a cheeky laugh. Today, her siblings are thriving, with some completing university and working in professional careers.

Looking back, Judith advises children in the sponsorship program to hold firm to their values. “I grew up as a reference point. Many parents in the community would call me to counsel their daughters to behave well. I tell children to stay disciplined and focused, because this support is an opportunity to change your life.”

“ChildFund made me who I am. I was proud to be a sponsored child and I am forever grateful to my sponsor for helping me achieve my dream.”