Ekinu Albino

Name:  Ekino Albino (goes by Albino)
Gender:  Boy
Reported birthdate:  July 9, 2012 (7 years old)
Favorite food:  Beans
Favorite activity:  Playing with a bicycle tire
Child is happy when...  He is playing with friends
Child wants to be a...  Driver
Home information:  Albino is growing up in the village of Bugoi in rural northeastern Uganda. His family resides in Awelu, a small community within Bugoi. Albino lives with his parents and has five older siblings. His family supports themselves by “digging”—they grow maize, beans, and millet to eat and to sell at market when they can. However, they struggle to meet all of their needs and sometimes have additional challenges with sickness. Albino’s mother is currently unable to dig, due to an operation. Albino’s most immediate need is education.
School information:  Albino has not previously been in school. With sponsorship, he will join the Bugoi Haven of Hope Nursery and Primary School in January 2020, where he will be placed in the appropriate grade for his age and learning level. In Uganda, nursery school lasts for three years and is followed by seven years of primary school and six years of secondary school. At school, Albino will learn and play, be taught about God, and receive meals and medical care.
Village information:  In Bugoi, most people live in small groupings of mud huts with thatched roofs and depend on small-scale farming or gardening to feed themselves. This is often made difficult by drought, which can lead to poor harvests and famine. The Haven of Hope school is located near a lake, where some villagers also engage in fishing. Families tend to be large, and many adults care for orphans in addition to their biological children. Disease, including HIV and AIDS, is common and has left many children without one or both of their parents. Poverty also keeps many children from attending school, as families struggle to meet their basic needs and afford school fees.
Prayer requests:  Pray for the health of Albino’s family and healing for his mother, and that Albino’s father will be able to help his mother in caring for their children.