Read what being a part of the Kisiizi Orphans project means to Darius and what he has been able to achieve as a result. I have left the piece in his own words, so please forgive the longish nature of this item.

I am called Darius Biryeija aged 26 years. My father died in when I was 5 years and our last born brother was 9 months. I am the first born child in the family, when my father died he left us very needy, with our mum who was also very weak and infected with HIV/AIDS.  We are three children in number; Darius, Ruth and Emmaus.

I luckily passed with good grades in Primary Leaving Examinations (P.L.E) and joined secondary school. We however sold our only banana plantation to enable me join Senior one. Unfortunately, the money that we got from the sale of the piece of land was not enough even to pay for two terms. The little land that was left was grabbed by our relatives from us. As a result we remained landless and survived on God’s mercy. Most of the time I struggled to get food for the family, clothing and most painfully school fees (for me, my young brother and sister).  All this gave me courage, determination and faith that one time I would be a better person.

 As a result, I engaged in income generating activities such as Bakery, Tailoring, knitting and Art & Craft work while pursuing studies at the same time. It was so challenging because not every time I would get money for school fees. Not until I happened to be taught by a teacher from UK called Wendy Cumberland who used to assist at our school as Physics and Mathematics teacher. I must say, meeting Wendy Cumberland was a blessing to me because not only did she help me as a teacher but also as a parent, and well wisher. Because I did not always have  the school fees I would be on and off in class. Wendy Cumberland helped me by topping up on my school fees.

 In 2001, there came her friends from UK who wanted to support orphans and vulnerable children whom she expressed my problems unto them. It was time for me to report at school when one of the people from Kisiizi Hospital told me that they sponsored me and my sister. Happiness came into cries as I thought back. I thank God that I was assisted by Kisiizi Orphans Program and to be one of the pioneers of the group.

This was the time when I was finishing Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education offering Physics, Economics, Mathematics and Fine Art (PEM/Art). I used to pray that God would give me a course that at least after my education I would find employment. Lucky enough I was admitted at Makerere University to pursue a course in Graphic Designing and the orphans project sponsored me to do this. The course was not easy for me because the requirements needed were so expensive for me but I managed to finish. Because I was doing well in Graphic Designing at Makerere University, I was admitted at Academy of Graphic Technologies in Kenya for advanced levels of education. This is the only institute that offers such services in East Africa.

After my course, I returned to the Kisiizi Orphans Program with  my certificate . They were very happy to see their first successful student and wished me well  but they found further tuition needed was too expensive to them. They had a meeting and they resolved that they would enable me to be assisting at Kisiizi Hospital Primary School  teaching computers and managing their computer Laboratory and to be paid monthly money for ten months. I saved the little I was getting from the monthly salary while giving assistance at home.

After my period, I had accumulated some money though it could not pay for further studies. I decided to go to Kampala to look for jobs or buy my own equipment to start with. When I reached in Kampala, I found the money I had could not rent for space and buy a computer. I was confused but God was in control. I rented a space for three months in a room where I managed to buy some accessories but there was no computer. I approached my friend and explained, he decided to borrow me a computer for a certain period of time. I must say “with God all things are possible” being a Graphic Designer, clients started coming and I have managed to buy my own computer, setting up an office for my company called Glophix Publishers. Now at least I have made a step though still having challenges.

Otherwise, long live Kisiizi Orphans Program, Long live Kisiizi Hospital. If it was not you, I wouldn’t have been what I am today. May God bless you abundantly especially my beloved sponsors. “Blessed is the hand that giveth than the one that taketh. Acts 20:35”