Teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world: educating young minds and preparing the next generation of change makers. For this World Teachers’ Day (October 5th), we’d like to thank all of our incredible teachers and remind you just how special you are.
You don’t just educate children, you make them feel safe and supported. You’re a guiding light for those who might feel lost or off course. And many of those children aspire to be YOU some day!
Children like Angel.
You can read her story below:
"Hi, my name is Angel, and I live at the Kyengera home. Today feels different, so I'm going to share my story.
I came here when I was 4 years old, and now, at 14, I call Kyengera my home. It’s a place where I feel safe, supported by my teachers and older kids like Flavia, who look out for me. But my life wasn’t always this way.
Sometimes I try to remember what happened before I came here, but it’s all a bit blurry. One memory, though, is still clear— the day my mom was taken away. I was at home with my grandmother when they put her in a box. They told me she would come back, but the next thing I knew, I was at her grave, putting soil on top of her. That was the last time I saw her.
I don’t know where my dad went. Not knowing makes me feel lost, like there’s a part of me missing. I often wonder if my mom thought about me in her last moments. Why did all this happen? When I see other kids with their families, it’s hard not to feel sad.
Even though I carry this sadness, I have big dreams. I want to be a teacher one day. I imagine standing in front of a classroom, helping kids who might feel as lost as I do sometimes. I want to give them hope, the same way people here at Kyengera have given me hope.”
Teachers' Impact
Angel’s lived through more heartbreak as a child than many do their entire lives. And through the darkness and emotion she’s experienced, she envisions her teachers as her beacons of hope. Just as they’ve helped her, she wants to help other children like her.
Teachers everywhere, thank you for your inspiration and impact. You may have the children in your classroom for only a year, but they will remember you for the rest of their lives.
Written with Eddie, one of our field team members in Uganda.
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