Before Edward found the Mushunga group, he was struggling.
Born on 17 April, 2008, Edward was an only child, living with his mum in the small village of Inshogororo. Living in abject poverty, Edward had to stop his schooling after Grade 1 due to the family's lack of resources.
Edward and his mum worked hard to make ends meet, but due to the unstable nature of their environment, they had to constantly move to survive. The one thing that did remain constant in Edward’s life was his friendship with Kiza, and his older brother Tonny.
Without any support, l felt like l was fighting an uphill battle. I was so grateful to have Kilza and Tonny in my life.
At the time, Tonny had a dream to gather children like Edward, together, and offer them a brighter future. No matter where Edward ended up, Kilza and Tonny kept in touch to offer him friendship, and support, and to share what little they had. They became his extended family. Through all the turmoil, Edward showed immense resilience in keeping his dreams alive.
When Tonny finally realised his plan to set up the Mushunga Community Project, he worked hard to find Edward a sponsor, so that Edward could join the school and live in the orphanage, with a much more stable environment.
When Edward joined the project he was in very poor health and the project was able to him find the medical care he needed to improve his condition.
They have been amazing! They've supported me with medical issues, clothing, and even school fees. With their help, my studies have been smooth sailing.
Edward is extremely grateful for his sponsorship and hopes that they will keep supporting his studies. His goal is to become a happy plumber. Having recognised the importance of this skill, and the impact it can have in his community, Edward is determined to make a difference in people's lives. He wants to give back some of the love and compassion he received from Tonny and his brother.
Edward’s story is a testament to the power of support and the resilience of the human spirit. It's a reminder that with the right resources and a strong support system, dreams can become a reality. His journey serves as an inspiration to all of us, showing us that no obstacle is too big to overcome.
Unfortunately, there are still far too many children in the same position that Edward was, before joining the community. If you, or someone you know would like to sponsor a child like Edward, please visit our Sponsor page. It costs less than a cup of coffee a day for you to commit $35-40 per month, to make a real difference in a child's life.
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