"I dream of becoming a teacher."

This month's impact story is about Koa, an 8-year-old boy living in Nabuselele Center village, Sironko district. He's the second of three children and lives in a run-down semi-permanent structure with his parents. Life has been challenging for Koa and his family; his mother does casual work, struggling to make ends meet, while his father spends his nights in local bars, often returning home drunk and causing fights. 

One cloudy afternoon, an extension worker noticed Koa severely infested with jiggers during a routine follow-up. They reached out to our team at Sole Hope, and our social worker quickly traveled to Sironko to assess the situation. Together with Koa's mother and siblings, he was brought to the Hope Center for treatment. He was malnourished, pale, and had difficulty walking due to the jigger infestation. Koa also suffered from sickle cell anemia, which further impacted his health.

At the Hope Center, Koa received compassionate care and treatment. The nurses removed the jiggers, treated his wounds, and provided health education to help him lead a jigger-free life. He attended catch-up lessons to improve his reading, writing, counting, and spelling skills, ensuring he kept up with his education.

Our social worker also offered counseling to help Koa cope with the trauma from the domestic violence he endured at home. There was a promise of networking and collaboration with others in the community to address the father's misconduct.

After two weeks of care, Koa's wounds had healed, and he was ready to return home. With a resettlement package, we emphasized the importance of hygiene practices to sustain his jigger-free life.

Today, Koa is full of hope and happiness. The jiggers are no longer a part of his life, and he dreams of becoming a teacher someday. Thanks to the support of the Sole Hope staff, Koa can resume school, play freely with other children, and leave behind the discrimination and stigma he once faced. We are incredibly grateful for our donors and supporters whose generosity has made stories like Koa's possible. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children and communities. Thank you for your continued support!