Jacob

Name:  Jacob
Gender:  Boy
Reported birthdate:  November 24, 2007 (currently age 18)
Favorite color:  Blue
Favorite food:  Pork with rice
Favorite activity:  Playing football (soccer)
Favorite subject:  Art and Design
Child is happy when…  He is spending time with friends
Child wants to be a…  Soldier
Home information:  Jacob is growing up in the village of Bugoi in rural northeastern Uganda. He lives with his mother and has two brothers and one sister—they are a household of five. Jacob is the second born. His father passed away, and his mother supports the family through her small business of selling clothes, shoes, and bags. The family also supports themselves by “digging”—they grow crops to eat and to sell when they can. However, they struggle to have enough food, pay medical bills, and meet other needs. Jacob is the only child in his family going to school. He helps his family at home by fetching water and helping his mother sell clothing items.
School information:  Jacob is a student at the Haven of Hope Secondary School. He is currently in S3 (senior 3, the third year of secondary school). 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. During school terms, Jacob boards at school, returning home for holidays. At school, he 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.
Child's prayer request:  Please pray for success in Jacob’s education and that he will achieve his goal of becoming a soldier one day.