Brian is a student of Computer Science at Makere University in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. He is also a part time boda-boda driver. Brian lost his parents at an early age. Now, at age 20, he supports himself and his younger sister by driving a boda — or motorcycle taxi — several days a week. In the absence of family support, Brian insists that it is his friends that have helped him succeed.
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Ojok Tony is 16 years old. Originally from the rural village of Koro in Northern Uganda, Tony was forced to flee northwards to the city of Gulu with his family after the village was attacked by Lord’s Resistance Army rebel forces. When he arrived in Gulu, tensions with his stepmother heightened and Ojok wound up living on the streets of Gulu. He now lives in Cornerstone, a boy’s group home run by David Laker, where he lives with other boys his age in a communal setting and is able to attend school. Ojok is extremely witty, a leader among the boys and excels on the football pitch. This is the story of his sister, Peloya Jacqueline, who was captured by the rebels.
Nabayego Evelyn and Namayanja Maxmiriam are best friends. In the early 90s, they both lost their parents to AIDs. Today, at sixteen, they attend Bishop’s Senior School in Mukono, a district just East of Kampala. This is one of a few interviews we conducted in which the participants were the primary interviewers. In this piece, Maxmiriam interviews Evelyn about her life as an orphan, as a friend, and as a role model for other teenagers. Both girls hope to one day attend university. Maxmiriam is interested in journalism and nursing, and Evelyn hopes to become a doctor.
This is our first audio piece recorded while in Uganda. A vox-pop, this piece is a compilation of the wishes of children aged 13-16 at Bishop’s Senior School in Mukono. This and similar activities became a staple in our orientation process: it proved a great way in which to familiarize the children with the equipment and also was instrumental in establishing a trust. Over the course of the summer it was heartening to note the congruency among the hopes and dreams expressed by children from different areas. Since returning to the U.S. we’ve conducted this same activity with children here and have found remarkably similar responses.
