MY TESTIMONYS – Teko Maria

Hello, my name is Teko Maria, aged 19 years old. I am a total Orphan, a Ugandan and a Karamojong staying in Moroto district currently. This is my story;

We used to live in Tororo Town. I was just around four to five years of age when my mother divorced my father and left me and my younger brother alone. So my father decided to return with me and my younger brother to the village in Karamoja-Moroto district which was our Native land. Meanwhile there, we stayed at my Aunt’s home since we did not have any other place to go at a time. My father had no home of himself and he was a hawker, since he was not educated. He therefore, could not do any other much profitable business. Thus, he continued with the same type of business he did to help support me and my younger brother.

However, life was really challenging for us as we continued staying with our relatives. My father was frequently ill and had no support since he only had us. At such age, I really tried almost everything I could to change our family situation but there was nothing much I could do as a child. Suddenly we lost our father; he died of HIV/AIDS. What really touched me that time and I cannot forget is that, I took care of him by myself and watched him breathe to his last. I thereby was left alone with my younger brother at five years old. All was darkness by that time. I started to think a lot of suggestion but I had a lot of fear on how to leave my brother and marry at that tender age without fulfilling my dream of becoming a better person in future and worst of all our culture of early marriage was threatening too.

Luckily enough CLHBC intervened in taking all my worries and burdens and to that I continue returning my thanks and gratitude to the religious of the Sacred Heart. They rescued out life from me through this home and my father also received great help and support until he passed on. I am one of CLHBC pioneer beneficiaries in terms of education, psychosocial support, guidance and counselling, follow-ups and many other activities conducted by CLHBC. With all these, I was finally able to complete my senior four level in the year 2019. Hence, without it I would not have experienced my primary & secondary education.  I am hereby very happy to say that, ‘I am still following my dream to continue with my education and become a medical personnel’. I therefore, advise my brothers and sisters never to give up in life, work hard and with God all is possible.

Finally, I kindly call upon your support for CLHBC which is a home for marginalised children, HIV positive children and adults affected and infected with HIV/AIDS needing your help and support for a positive living in Moroto district.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

Teko Maria.