Florence

Name:  Florence
Gender:  Girl
Reported birthdate:  Born around 2014 (currently age 10)
Favorite color:  Red
Favorite food:  Meat
Favorite activity:  Washing clothes
Favorite subjects:  Social studies and science
Child is happy when…  She is studying at school
Child wants to be a…  Nurse
Home information:  Florence is growing up in the village of Bugoi in rural northeastern Uganda. She lives with her mother, Susan. Her father passed away. Florence has 5 brothers and 3 sisters. She is the last born. Her family supports themselves by “digging”—they grow crops such as maize, beans, cassava, and simsim (sesame) to eat and to sell when they can. However, they struggle to meet all of their needs, and they often have challenges with sickness. Florence helps at home by digging, fetching water, cooking, and washing clothes, plates, and utensils.
School information:  Florence is a student at the Bugoi Haven of Hope Nursery and Primary School. She is currently in P2 (primary school, grade 2). 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, Florence will continue to 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 that God will give Florence’s family good health and that she will do well in her studies.