"We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.”

-Alan Turing

 

Meet our 8th graders

 

Michael Mwenje

Michael is 13 years old and is founder Raphael Etenyi's son. Just as determined as his father, he says he "studies at Hamomi to get his education and to become a good man." He calls himself a Hamomi pioneer. He walks 25 minutes to and from school each day. He'd like to be a mechanic because he says "it would feel good to repair people's cars." He says if he ever has money, he will help Hamomi, but first he needs to finish getting his education. He hopes Hamomi will only improve and "will one day become the best school in the whole world!"

 

 

Hillary Hampha

Hillary is 15 years old and walks about 30 minutes to and from school every day. When asked why he does this, he says he comes every day because he likes learning. About to finish primary school, he wants to continue learning after he passes his national exams. He wants to go on to high school and then on "until the end" until he becomes a pilot. He lives with a guardian who Raphael found for him.

This is what he remembers from before he joined Hamomi: "I was walking without anywhere to live. Mr. Raphael found me and told me to come. He continued helping me, gave me a parent. I've never seen my parents, just myself, without somewhere to live. I was walking, sleeping in the streets, I would find some rubbish outside in the composts and sell them to get money. And I was a child. I was just living outside and sleeping under an overpass. Mr. Raphael found me there and just told me I can come here and learn. He's coming to open a school.  I didn't know how to talk, but now I can handle myself, I can write, I can speak English a little bit. I can say now that I am good, because before, I wasn't able to do anything in my life, but now I can see my future career will be good."

His dream is to visit other countries; to live well, in a better house in a better place. He wants to finish his education so then he can become a volunteer at Hamomi. 

 

Nelson Mungusi

When asked why he walks so far to school every day, he says it's because he has to, it is the only way to better himself. He remembers when he was young and Raphael found him, and he is so thankful that now he has a real family. He does not know why he was a streetkid or where he came from. Raphael found him near a river in the slum begging for money that he could use to buy food. He says Raphael told him to come so that he could take Nelson to school and find him some food and a family to live with. He says, "I would really like in the future to help Hamomi. I would like to get some money so that I can give it back to Hamomi and then future kids can continue learning."

 

Briton Adegu

 

Briton is 14 years old and started at Hamomi in class 3. He was born in the streets, without anybody until Raphael took him in. Raphael gave him a guardian and told Briton to come and learn in Hamomi. "I've learned here from 3rd grade until now in class 8. In my career, I will be a better man, I will help Hamomi. I'd like to be a pilot, to fly to many places and many countries." In all his endeavors, Briton is determined to also give back to Hamomi once he is able to support himself and his own family.