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This is my Story: Part 3 "Beyond the Village: A Journey for Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding."

 In my last two episodes, I shared my childhood experiences first, during the war and after the war. 


Today, I'll continue with the third episode, "Beyond the Village." With no high school near me, it was time to leave home and head to the nearest "big town," Jinja, Uganda. I had never imagined myself in a big town before. Jinja, an industrial hub, was unlike anything I had known.

After enrolling in high school, I needed to find somewhere to stay. I ended up sharing a small hut with a classmate who had already rented it. I remember looking up at night and seeing the sky and moon through the roof. We had to sleep in shifts because there wasn't enough room for both of us simultaneously. As hard as life was in my village, I missed it.

(This is one of my first ever pictures taken)!!!!!! 

Back to the story!! 

To make ends meet, I worked to pay for my school fees, accommodation, and food. I enrolled in a carpentry apprenticeship and worked with a carpenter, doing woodwork and painting. That's how I earned enough to get by. I had to make many sacrifices, including choosing not to follow the path most boys my age were taking—getting married and starting families. I felt there was something greater waiting for me beyond that.

Since I had to work and study, I couldn't join any after-school activities or have much of a social life. High school was also when I first encountered technology: I saw a television for the first time and even watched the World Cup. However, after three years, we had to switch schools to sit for our national exams because our school wasn't registered to host them. Looking back, it's remarkable how challenging this journey was for someone my age.


After high school, I thought my education journey was over. College seemed out of reach, as working and studying at that level was almost impossible. I moved in with my sister and started trading to make a living.

During this time, I got to know a wise older man who was our neighbor and had noticed me from the church I'd recently started attending and became a Christian. He took time to read the Bible with me and answer my questions. He listened with care, encouraged me, and made me disciples as a Christian, and eventually, I was baptized. Looking back, I am surprised that this was my first time exposed to the gospel. 


When the trading business didn't go as well as I'd hoped, I decided to return to my village and began farming tomatoes. Reflecting on that season of life, I see how each challenge helped shape my journey. 

I was sure that this was the end of my educational journey. I was very aware that it was too ambitious to think about going to college.

When I envision Shalom Care School, I do not only envision an elementary school; I envision a secondary school; I envision a high school, a university, and a technical college. I see children in my community receiving equal opportunities with other children. My story needs to be a history, not one a child in my community identifies with. 

   I agree that they will have their struggles, but they will be different struggles. 


This episode chronicles my journey in pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and deeper understanding. The most transformative part of this path was encountering God along the way—an encounter that profoundly reshaped my story and purpose.

Robert Edube 



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