Scovia Ayaa: The Pride of a Family

"Hello, my name is Scovia Ayaa. I am in P7 at IGF primary school. We are six in our family and I am the last-born. My mother breaks stones to sell for gravel. Her income is so little, that she was not able to pay for school for my older brothers and sisters. It is only after we discovered IGF that I was able to go to school. 

As there are six of us, there is little food at home, and we barely get something to eat.

Life is not that good at home but I thank God everyday for having given me a sponsor. Because of the sponsor’s support, I get a good education, food & even medication when I am sick. I am so happy to be able to study and to get an opportunity for success. Going to school is my favorite part of the day.  I love playing, learning, eating, seeing my friends and feeling safe.

I do not worry any more since coming to school. The staff and teachers are very encouraging and push the pupils to be better. I love hearing the morning devotionals and hearing about a God who loves me. All I am doing is praying & studying hard to be a doctor. I want to change the future of our family and improve the community around me.The only message I have for my sponsor is thank you. Without you, I would not be where I am today. Apwoyo matek."

Scovia’s story is a familiar one in our community. Many youth had their futures stolen by war and camp life. These younger children – the “children of peace” – are now the hopes of their family. Parents and older siblings take pride and joy in the hope that their young children can have a future. Your sponsorship helps ensure that the rights and the futures of these children are protected. 

Egg a Day

IGF understands that in order for our children to reach their full potential, we must holistically provide care, starting with quality nutrition. Nutrition is incredibly important to comprehensive health and academic performance of young children. Studies have suggested that animal protein is an excellent way to increase learning and IQ – perhaps by as much as 18 points! Protein assists in physical growth, can help students focus in class, and improve their overall health outcomes.

For all of these wonderful reasons, IGF is taking steps to sustainably introduce eggs into our feeding program. Jeff Miller and Dameon Smith, a professor and a researcher from the University of Arkansas, came to IGF in February to begin a study looking into the impact of eggs for the nutrition of children. Students in IGF schools will be receiving daily eggs and the results on their physical and mental development will be tracked over six months. This data will enable IGF to make the best decision about how to add eggs to the nutrition program.

Supplying the eggs is another challenge. Currently, all eggs in Kitgum come from Kampala, over 9 hours away by bumpy truck ride. This adds expense, reduces quality, and breaks lots of eggs. In response to the transport and cost issues associated with bringing in eggs, IGF decided to confront the issue by building our own chicken farm. Through the support of our wonderful donors, IGF has begun construction of this chicken farm designed to sustainably provide eggs to our children. By starting this business, IGF will help develop the agriculture sector in Kitgum which will provide jobs to widowed mothers, and provide eggs for growing children. Profits from the farm will support IGF, allowing for more children to enjoy more eggs. The end goal is for the farm to house 10,000 chickens, allowing each child to have one egg per day. We are very excited about this initiative and how it will positively affect the health and growth of the beautiful children at IGF. 

The 2nd Best High Schooler in all of Kitgum

“When IGF opened a school in Amida, my life changed. My parents are only peasant farmers, and they could not afford to take care of their 8 children – 2 boys and 6 girls – when the war destroyed their land and put them into refugee camps. In Acholi culture, the last born is especially cared for and I was the last born, so my parents wanted to provide for me but couldn’t. So when Mama Irene opened a free school for needy children, I was able to achieve my dreams of getting an education. I was enrolled in Amida school and focused on my studies with my family behind me. My other brothers and sisters were older than me and missed their chance at school, so the hopes of the family were put onto me.

I focused on my studies and made sure I took extra time in subjects I struggled in. I stayed after class to consult with teachers, and left home at 5am to have extra time to study. When I reached home, I tried to study as much as I could before the sun went down and I had no light to read. When the last year of primary school came, I sat for my national exams, praying that all of my hard work would pay off. I achieved the highest grade at Amida school, and Irene came to my rescue again to sponsor me on to high school.

Last year, I finished my 4^th year of high school and sat for another important exam. My hard work and study habits yielded results again, but this time I was the second best – in all of Kitgum. This year, because of my strong results, IGF will sponsor me on for further studies at one of the top schools in Gulu. I want to become a doctor and study medicine. I see the needs of the community and I want to give my life to improve their health and allow them to live full lives. After I finish my studies, I look forward to working with IGF’s health program to improve the quality of life of children in my community. I also want to pay back my family for all the support they have given me by supporting them and lifting them up to another level.

I want to give my deepest thanks to IGF sponsorship – without sponsorship, I would not have made it. Your support has changed my life.” -Richard Okello

Richard at home with his parents!  

2013 Teacher of the Year: Kidega David

When IGF began to build our newest school, Palabek, which opened in July 2013, we knew how important it was to staff Palabek with world class teachers. From Palabek's inception, our desire was to make the school a model for the type of quality and care we strive to give the children of Northern Uganda through our schools.  Nearing the end of 2013, we knew the first year at Palabek had been a success based on the votes from IGF's staff for teacher of the year. Kidega David was voted by his peers as teacher of the year because of his selfless love for the children of Northern Uganda and his desire to see those children reach their full potential. 

David is a Mathematics teacher for P2 and P3 students at Palabek. He joined IGF in 2007 at the main school searching for any sort of job he could find. However, once working at the main IGF campus, David met Mama Irene, Pastor Alfred and a selfless team who put the needs of the children above their own. Through his work at IGF, and attendance at IGF Community Church, David started to hear the gospel spoken and lived out among his friends and fellow staff. When he started working with IGF, he was abusing alcohol in his personal life. But the Lord grabbed a hold of David's heart through his time at IGF, and he decided to fully commit his life to Jesus! Since his choice to live his life out for the Lord, David is completely dedicated to his family – his wife Nancy and three sons - and his students. David hopes to take the same transformation he has experienced through Jesus and foster that change in the life of his students.  David is an excellent teacher working hard to change the minds of the future IGF generations. With teachers like Kidega David on our staff, we know that Palabek School truly has become a "light on a hill" in Northern Uganda. Apwoyo matek David!