Adam, the eldest at 13 and his 2 brothers walked along beside their Mom.  The hot Uganda sun beat down on them as they went from house to house selling small items like combs, matchboxes, pens, notebooks, mirrors etc.  This was not an easy way to earn money to buy the day's food.  The woman walked slowly.  On her back, she carried baby Judith just 8 months old.  No one knewhow many more weeks or months the mother could survive.  She had AIDS.  People mostly bought out of sympathy, knowing how desperately the family needed food.  When the little family were at last tired and hungry they turned toward home.  Home was a 1 room tin shack where they all lived with the Dad.  He was quite an elderly man.  Everyone called him "Muzee" which means 'old man'. He worked as night watchman, earning a small salary.  The evening meal, cooked over a wood fire, consisted of matooke and red beans.  Matooked is a cooking banana, tasty but not very nutritious.  The boys washedup the plates then lay down on the floor and fell asleep.  Since there was no extra money for school fees, no need to think of going to school the following day. Going out with Mom became the usual daily routine.  Then one day the Mom realized that she would soon die.  There was a Family Helper Project in the town where she went to ask for help so that after her death the children might at least get a few years of education.  The Project agreed to pay school fees for the 2 older children - Adam and Charles. It was the saddest day of the children's lives when Mom died.  She was just 36. Then started their big challenge - how to survive plus go to school.  Adam quickly took charge, organizing the daily routine.  He would get up at 5:30 a.m., work in the small garden where he grew corn and beans, wake up Charles and Jack by 6:30 who would then start the wood fire to cook break fst and fetch the day's water.  Adam would cart 2nd hand clothes to various stalls for vendors, then get ready for school.  Himself and Charles went to school while Dad cared for Jack and baby Judith. By 4 p.m. Adam and Charles returned from school.  At 6 p.m. Adam fetched the 2nd hand clothes to store in their room overnight.  Then began the evening with fetching firewood, water, having dinner then studying by kerosene lamp.  Adam usually went to bed at around 11 p.m. This life continued for another 6 years.  The Family Helper Project took good care of the 4 children, ensuring that they had, at least, minimum food each day, paying for their school uniforms and fees.  Their overseas sponsors sometimes sent money gifts which added to their comfort. An overseas based volunteer at the Project met the family and really fell in love with little Judith.  She wanted to adopt her and so began the long process to realize this dream.  Finally in 2004 she succeeded.  (Judith just completed her A level exams as I write this) Adam is an ideal man.  At age 20 he finally completed high school.  In spite of having little time to study he got an average of 70% in his final year exams.  A volunteer worker from Belgium paid for his agriculture degree course in Kenya. Charles has fared equally well.  Although as a child we thought him to be a slow learner he turnedout quite the opposite.  Today he is in2nd year of an Economics degree in S. Africa & is getting distinctions. Jack is the proud father of a baby boy.  Jack is 19 now.  He hasn't as yet found his chosen profession.  Adam is certainly there to motivate his little brother so we hope that one day..... 

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