Journey to University: Mark Peter

I could have ended up as a member of a gang that would disrupt my community. instead, I will create architectural designs to transform my community, it’s something that's going to act as a step in the direction of me becoming a successfully, erudite and valuable person in my community, portraying a good example for my young siblings and making my family proud.

My name is Ssenyonga Mark Peter. Earlier in my life I was raised by my grandmother, my father’s mother, who lived in Bukoto. This is because of some family misunderstandings between my parents, which led them to push me to my grandmama. I lived with my grandmama from when I was in primary four until I completed primary school at a public school in Kamwokya in 2016. Life with grandma was not great. I was a very stubborn boy, and I regret that because at her age, instead of enjoying her life, my grandma was struggling to raise a stubborn boy. 

Fortunately, I managed to get good enough grades in my Primary Leaving Examinations, and after that, my grandma decided to send me back to my father. I could not stay with her anymore because I was being influenced to join a gang in Kamwokya, a renown slum in Uganda that was close to my school. The gang posed as a gymnastic and B-boy dance place for kids my age but a lot of its members were seen causing havoc in the community. My grandma never stepped back her courage to raise and mentor me, but with the threat of joining a gang, she had to send me back to my father.

I had spent four years without seeing my Dad, and now I had to live with him. I had to find a high school in Nakuwadde, where we now lived. I was admitted to Light Secondary School which I could have been more enthusiastic about at the beginning, not knowing that that was where I would learn about The Action in Africa Center, a place that became my loving home. I was admitted to the school and started my secondary education at Light Secondary and Vocational School Bulenga while staying with my dad. My first day at school was a little bit boring because it was a new area, new people, and new everything and I wasn’t the kind of person good at socializing with strangers. 

I only knew the teachers and the different kinds of subjects they teach. After one month of little interaction with school colleagues, I came across some students at the playground doing gymnastics and acrobatics. I rushed right away and went closer and joined the crew and showed them my acrobatics moves too. I was allowed to showcase some moves by their leader and I was surprised with the cheers the crew gave me. Many were saying, “Bro, you have to teach us those insane skills you have!” The evening went so well that I also got to finally make some friends that day.

One morning at school, I heard one of my friends Nsibuka William talking about Action in Africa. Immediately, I jumped into the conversation and asked him what Action in Africa was. He told me that it was a community center where he went to participate in different kinds of fun activities called “after-school programs”, like reading books, playing football, and having porridge after all the activities. My mind was more captivated with playing football and taking a cup of porridge. I got to know even more about Action in Africa from one of the AIA staff members, Aunt Juliana who was a neighbor where we stayed with my dad. During one of the long school breaks, she talked to my dad and tried to convince him to let me go and attend the AIA programs during the school break.

My first experience at The Center was anxious, but after I saw my classmates from school I knew it would all be fine and fun. It was a Monday and programs had already started. The ongoing program by that time was a “classroom program”. The class program was fabulous and the next program was the spelling bee. I was very excited to attend it because Aunt Juliana was the facilitator. Surprisingly I was the second runner up for the spelling bee competition and some presents were given to me. This motivated my interest and participation in different programs at The Center.

At the end of the final school break of 2016, Action in Africa was awarding scholarship opportunities to students who had been actively participating in the Holiday Program. I was one of the lucky students who got this opportunity. I have been on the Secondary Scholarship program for the last six years and this scholarship has enabled me to complete my secondary level of education. Now I’m one of the five students who were awarded the Action in Africa University Scholarship this year. This opportunity has played a pivotal role in pursuing my dream career of being an architect. I’m very excited, focused, and ambitious to join the university for a Bachelor's in Architecture at the International University of East Africa where I was admitted. 

I could have ended up as a member of a gang that would disrupt my community, instead, I will create architectural designs to transform my community, it’s something that's going to act as a step in the direction of me becoming a successfully, erudite and valuable person in my community, portraying a good example for my young siblings and making my family proud. I am exceedingly grateful.