Raphael E.

Name:  Raphael E.
Gender:  Boy
Reported birthdate:  January 5, 2010 (currently age 16)
Favorite color:  Green
Favorite food:  Kwon (local bread) with fish
Favorite activity:  Playing football (soccer)
Favorite subject:  Mathematics
Child is happy when…  He is playing football at school
Child wants to be a…  Builder
Home information:  Raphael is growing up in the village of Bugoi in rural northeastern Uganda. He lives with his mother. His parents are separated, and his father lives elsewhere. Raphael has 4 brothers and 2 sisters—he is the youngest. Another brother passed away last year. Their family supports themselves by “digging”—they grow crops such as maize, sorghum, and sesame to eat and to sell when they can. They also grow bananas. However, they struggle to meet all of their needs. Raphael helps at home by digging and grazing the family’s goats.
School information:  Raphael is a student at the Bugoi Haven of Hope Nursery and Primary School. He is currently in P6 (primary grade 6). 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, Raphael 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 Raphael will do well in school and pass his exams.