The story of Maria Tendo Nalugo, a neglected orphan whose life was transformed by Rotary

Tendo lost  her parents at a very young age, in fact she doesn’t know how the father looked like. Her remaining relatives abandoned her until she was picked up by the LC Chairman of that village who took her on as his own child. We enrolled her in our Kabutemba school where we pay for all the children and take care of all their materials , teachers salaries and accommodation.

Last year, this school did its first PLE exams and Tendo emerged the best with 15 aggregates. We decided to take her to and other two girls to another level (secondary school). We managed to secure Tendo a scholarship to study at St Lawrence- Horizon Campus – Kampala courtesy  of Hon Mike Sebalu, our rotary club member who is also a Past President of our Club, the Past Assistant Governor, and a renown Politician. Tendo is now in Senior One at St Lawrence and is still in shock and can’t believe she is in a fine school studying with children of different backgrounds.

Tendo had never seen electricity, many cars , stories buildings, tarmac roads, a flat iron and many things we take for granted . She had never stepped in Kampala . When in holidays she stays partly with the family of Hon Sebalu and also her village caretaker.

Yesterday was Maria Tendo’s visitation day at school and we checked on her and encouraged her to stay focused and disciplined. Education is one of the focus areas of rotary and we give this area a lot of attention. Many rotary clubs have built schools and are also paying for many children’s education. You don’t have to be in rotary to help, you can support as an individual, family or clan and educate people who have no access to education. I know many of you support many children to get education and you are all appreciated .

We have so many “Tendos” in our communities and if we do not support them to get education and a life that is worth it, they will become a problem to this nation . Thank you to Rotary Club of Bukoto and all Rotary clubs in the world for connecting and changing lives of millions of people .