Nancy

Name:  Nancy
Gender:  Girl
Reported birthdate:  April 7, 2012 (currently age 14)
Favorite color:  Orange
Favorite food:  Rice and fish
Favorite activity:  Playing netball and cooking
Favorite subject:  Social studies
Child is happy when…  She is playing netball with her friends at school or playing with dolls
Child wants to be a…  Nurse
Home information:  Nancy is growing up in the village of Bugoi in rural northeastern Uganda. She lives with her mother, Colleen, and has three brothers and four sisters. Six other children in the family (including two sets of twins) have passed away. Nancy’s father, Alfred, is alive, but divorced her mother several years ago and now lives elsewhere. Colleen takes care of all her children. The family supports themselves by “digging”—they grow crops such as beans, potatoes, maize, and millet to eat and to sell when they can. However, they struggle to meet all of their needs.
School information:  Nancy is a student at the Bugoi Haven of Hope Nursery and Primary School. She is currently in P5 (primary school, grade 5). 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, Nancy will continue to learn and play, be taught about God, and receive meals, medical care, and clothing. Two of Nancy’s sisters attend the Haven of Hope school with her.
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 God’s guidance, protection, and good health for Nancy’s family.