Olinga Brian

Name:  Olinga Brian (goes by Brian)
Gender:  Boy
Reported birthdate:  August 28, 2014 (currently age 9)
Favorite color:  Red
Favorite food:  Posho (a staple food in Uganda) and beans
Favorite activity:  Gardening and playing football (soccer)
Home information:  Brian is growing up in the village of Bugoi in rural northeastern Uganda. He lives with his grandmother, Jane. His parents, Andrew and Leah, are alive but live in a city two hours away. They could not afford to care for Brian and his three siblings, so Brian came to live with Jane. She has five grandchildren in her care. They support themselves by “digging”—they grow crops to eat and to sell when they can. However, they struggle to meet all of their needs.
School information:  Brian has attended a local government school, but his family is struggling to keep paying his school fees. Through sponsorship, he will join the Bugoi Haven of Hope Nursery and Primary School at the beginning of February 2024. He will be placed in the appropriate class for his age and learning level. In Uganda, nursery school lasts for three years and is followed by seven years of primary school and up to six years of secondary school. At school, Brian will learn and play, be taught about God, and receive meals, medical care, and clothing.
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 beside 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:  Please pray for God’s provision for Brian’s parents and grandmother.

Please note: Any financial contributions toward Brian’s sponsorship before February 2024 will help the Haven of Hope school prepare to open for the 2024 school year and ensure that he has everything he needs to start school.