Barbara

Barbara is one of HALO's scholarship recipients. After the HALO kids finish their formal schooling through high school they can apply for a HALO scholarship. The scholarship allows them to continue their education. They can choose to go to a vocational school and learn a trade or go to college. Since most of the HALO youth in Uganda spent years without attending school before they came to the HALO homes they are far behind in their education and many of them choose vocational school. Barbara is an amazing young woman who despite a hard life always manages to see the good in the world. She is bright and bubbly and very fun to be around. She overcame numerous challenges in her life to get where she is today. Barbara is on the path to achieving her dreams and we are so proud of her. 

Barbara is 20 years old. She’s been living in Lungujja home since 2009. Barbara was born in a small village called Migori in Kenya, but she grew up in Kampala, Uganda because her mother was Ugandan and her family moved there when she was young. Her mother died when she was four years old. She was raised by her father and her brothers. Her dad had a steady job so he was able to pay for her to go to school as well as take care of the family. They had a happy life together. Then in August of 2007 Barbara’s dad passed away. Barbara said that was the saddest day of her life. After he passed there was no one left to pay for her to go to school so she started prostituting herself. She would sleep with many men in order to pay for school. She lived with a group of girls who she also worked with. Barbara would go to school during the day then go to the streets at night. She said she had no other options. She said, “I really wanted to study but no one would pay my school fees so I was selling my body. I had many many men.” Barbara lived like this for two years. Finally she was connected with an employee from Cornerstone Development (HALO’s partner in Uganda). Barbara was offered a place in Lungujja home, a home for girls who have worked in the sex trade. She said she gladly accepted the offer and immediately moved to Lungujja home.

Barbara received the HALO scholarship last year and she is currently enrolled in vocational school at the Uganda Catholic Management Training Center. She will finish the program in December and receive a certificate in Social Work and Social Administration. Barbara already has a job lined up with a nonprofit called Acacia Designs. She will make t-shirts, and continue her education. Acacia Designs will pay for Barbara to continue in school. She is going to stick with Social Work and Social Administration but this time she will receive a higher degree. After she completes her second year of school Barbara still wants to continue with school so she can pursue her dream job. She said

“I’ve always wanted to be a journalist. It is my dream career to one day be on screen, look for news everywhere, and read it to the people.”

Barbara is very happy for the time she spent in Lungujja home. She said, “I was happy to come here. I like the transformation that I went through when I came here.” However, she is looking forward to living on her own one day. She is excited to work and provide for herself.