Journey to University: Moses
Moses aspires to build a school in the future so that he can teach the young generation and help vulnerable kids study for free. He knows the struggle children go through to acquire quality education in Uganda.
Many children in Uganda fail to receive quality education due to a lack of support, sometimes caused by financial vulnerability in the family, the death of guardians, and other related challenges. This leads to self-support through taking on jobs that require less experience so they can sustain and enrich their academic goals. Today, travel with us as we share the story of Moses Musaazi, who used to support himself before Action in Africa rescued him from the burden of working while studying.
Musaazi Moses was born on September 23, 1998, in the suburbs of Nateete, a city near The Center at Action in Africa. Later, they migrated to Nakuwadde in 2008. He started attending All Saints Primary School from Primary 2 until he sat for Primary 7 in 2013, but it was a struggle for his mother to collect school fees from hawking clothes.
Moses grew up with his mother, who provided 100% support, while his father’s support was partial due to the long-distance relationship with their family.
During his vacation, Moses realized that it would be very difficult to join secondary school based on his mother’s income status. She always struggled to educate him and his siblings through hawking clothing, which opened his eyes to start hustling as a man.
Unlike other vulnerable children who pity themselves for the situations they face, Moses never followed their footsteps. During his vacation, he approached construction sites to help out so that he could earn money and assist his mother at home, as well as enroll in secondary school.
In 2014, he started secondary school at a cheaper, low-standard school in Bulenga, but since it was a shared effort between him and his mother, they had to bear with the state of the school so that he could achieve his academic ambitions.
He narrated how he always absconded from lessons so that he could visit construction sites to earn money to use during the week. “I had gotten exhausted too, struggling at the construction sites so that I could pay my school fees. Sometimes I missed crucial lessons while looking for money so that I wouldn't be disturbed during exam periods.”
Additionally, based on the bilateral relationship AIA shares with the community leaders, Moses noted that the Vice Chairperson of Nakuwadde village and a family friend delivered the news of the scholarship to his mother and explained the impact and programs the organization had introduced to their village. Moses and his mother never resisted, and the next day, they were already visitors at The Center. “We were welcomed and oriented on the programs of AIA,” Moses said. “That is how I started attending daily.”
In 2016, he was among the lucky students who received the good news of a scholarship. “That day, I knew God had answered my prayers. I started attending lessons daily. I withheld working on the construction sites because I had gotten a second hand in my studies. My school fees were always paid on time, and even the school heads wondered how I managed to clear them so promptly until I revealed my secret—that Action in Africa had relieved my burden.”
His dream of becoming a teacher developed in high school from his biology and chemistry teacher, who inspired him with the way he conducted lessons at a professional level. Moses was driven and passionate about becoming a teacher. However, he never pursued the sciences because his grades did not enable him. He had to use the opportunity of a scholarship to fulfill his aspiration, which he improvised accordingly.
After Senior Four, he shifted from the low-standard school and joined A-level at Central College Secondary School for quality education through AIA’s support. AIA did not stop at the secondary level but continued supporting him until he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education, majoring in Divinity and Luganda Language.
He said he would never forget the programs at the center. “Spelling bee, debate, public speaking lectures—I was very dormant and shy in public. Maybe that was when I discovered my capacity to handle students. Look at who I am now—standing before students and teaching! I gained confidence, and now I can address a big congregation because of AIA.”
Moses aspires to build a school in the future so that he can teach the young generation and help vulnerable kids study for free. He knows the struggle children go through to acquire quality education in Uganda.
In conclusion, he expressed his gratitude to the donors who have supported Action in Africa and Founder and Executive Director Sarah Nininger. “I believe if she had no supporters and donors who enabled her to support us and heal our wounded hearts, she wouldn’t have managed. Thanks, donors. May God reward you abundantly for your kindness.”
He noted that they would have been idle youths in the community of Nakuwadde, but through AIA, they managed to spend their time at The Center while engaging in developmental programs, and now everyone is proud of them.
He also sent a heartfelt message to “Aunt” Sarah, saying that the community of Nakuwadde appreciates her impact. “I stay in Nakuwadde, and I hear people embracing her and Action in Africa at large for their impact. Me too—I spread the gospel of AIA. From today, I declare to be part of AIA for the rest of my life.”
