Below are the profiles of two of our students -
Athuman Swalehe, aged 21
Athuman is one of our most enthusiastic students. In August we moved him from the beginner to the intermediate class, after we decided that as he was excelling in the beginner class, he needed more of a challenge. He is living up to expectations and continues to participate fully in his new class and is performing even better academically.
His story is, unfortunately, a sad one, but is not unusual for the young adults we work with -
His mother died when he was young, and he does not know who his father is. He was raised by his grandmother, who struggled to put him through school. He completed primary school but his grandmother simply couldn't afford to send him to secondary school.
Athuman would like to be a tour guide, and he says that it is important to him to get an education so he can progress along his chosen career path and in his own words “will no longer have to suffer”.
Lonisa Mwamlima, aged 19
Lonisa is a quiet, hardworking student who always does what is asked of her and is doing well in classes and in extracurricular activities. She shows initiative and has impressed our tutors with her use of grammar and punctuation.
Before coming to Umoja, she completed Form Four of secondary school, but she was unable to continue after the death of her parents. She was working as a house-girl (live-in maid) and living with her sister. Umoja was the only way for Lonisa to continue her education.
When Lonisa leaves Umoja, she would like to train to be an accountant, and she wants to help those “who have lived hard lives” as she has.
Athuman Swalehe, aged 21
Athuman is one of our most enthusiastic students. In August 2010, after eight months at Umoja, he moved from the beginner class to the intermediate class, after we decided that, as he was excelling in the beginner class, he needed more challenge. He has lived up to expectations and continues to fully participate in class and perform well academically.
His story is a sad one, but not unusual. His mother died when he was young, and he does not know who his father is. He was raised by his grandmother, who struggled to put him through school. Athuman completed primary school but his grandmother simply could not afford to send him to secondary school.
Athuman would like to be a tour guide, and he says that it is important to him to get an education so he can progress along his chosen career path and “will no longer have to suffer”.
Lonisa Mwamlima, aged 19
Lonisa is a quiet, hardworking student who always does what is asked of her and is doing well in classes and extracurricular activities. She shows initiative and has impressed our tutors with her use of grammar and punctuation.
Before coming to Umoja, she completed Form Four of secondary school, but she was unable to continue after the death of her parents. She was working as a house-girl (live-in maid) and living with her sister. Umoja was the only way for Lonisa to continue her education.
When Lonisa leaves Umoja, she would like to train to be an accountant, and she wants to help those “who have lived hard lives” as she has.
