Last week, I was enjoying dinner with my neighbor when we heard a small voice call “koodi” from outside. “Koodi” means something like, “hello-- I’m here.” Kind of like the Ugandan equivalent to knocking on a door or ringing a doorbell. So my neighbor went out to see who it was. Two boys around the ages of eight and nine were out selling milk. They study at the primary school in my village and were in need of notebooks. Being poor, but having a family cow, their mother gave them some milk to go around and sell to the neighbors to earn money. Not simply asking for money, but earning money. They were selling two mugs for 500 shillings, which ends up being about a quarter gallon of milk for 20 cents.
Even though there is Universal Primary and partial Secondary Education, it is still difficult for poor kids to stay in school. They can’t afford notebooks, pens, pencils, a math kit, the mandatory uniform, meal-cards for food, etc (and teachers will send them out of class or home if they don’t come prepared). Also, their families often need them to remain home to help dig in the garden and take care of house chores. It is likely that poor, village kids will remain poor, village kids. So, seeing these boys out selling milk at 10pm, desperate to get notebooks for school really touched me. They are at such a young age but are serious students. They see the importance of education and want to learn... at such a young age! It was definitely an eye-opening experience. I am truly grateful for the education I received growing up and have never been surer of my decision to put that education to the best use by coming here to teach.
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