Michael

Name:  Michael
Gender:  Boy
Reported birthdate:  October 5, 2010 (currently age 13)
Favorite color:  Purple
Favorite food:  Cassava
Favorite activity:  Digging (farming)
Favorite subject:  Mathematics
Child is happy when…  He is studying
Child wants to be an…  Engineer
Home information:  Michael is growing up in the village of Bugoi in rural northeastern Uganda. He lives with his grandmother, Lillian. His mother is alive but lives elsewhere, and his father passed away. Michael has 3 brothers and 1 sister. He is the second born. His family supports themselves by “digging”—they grow crops such as cassava, maize, beans, and millet to eat and to sell when they can. However, they struggle to meet all of their needs. Michael helps at home by digging, sweeping, fetching water, and grazing animals.
School information:  Michael is a student at the Bugoi Haven of Hope Nursery and Primary School. He is currently in P4 (primary school, grade 4). 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, Michael 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 Michael and his family good health.