The story of Atwongyeire Ronah,
Project Coordinator Street Children Rehabilitation Project Kisoro, Uganda.
This is my eighth year working with the street children of Koinonia. I am happily married and blessed with 2 good-looking sons. I consider it a privilege to be part of the Koinonia team in Uganda. The unity and good cooperation among the staff, but also with the leadership team extends to the children and that is certainly vital. Our children have experienced all kinds of situations on the street, so their behavior is often far from easy. That is precisely why it is so beautiful to see how they transform under good, loving and patient care. That is the great reward of our work.
I am grateful that the board of Koinonia did not focus on the skin color or tribal preferences while soliciting, but on the qualifications and willingness to make a positive contribution to the children. In addition to a job, I have had the opportunity to put into practice everything I studied for, enrich my skills and develop from a social worker to a project coordinator. My spiritual life, in particular, has been enriched, and my faith in God has become even stronger, whatever the circumstances. This is something I pass on in my relationship with the children and I take along when I go on home visits. It helps me to show people new perspectives for their lives.
In order to achieve our goal as an organization, we need resources and people. Creativity and adaptability are then very important. Since we don’t have everything available and because we can’t always choose who we work with, I’ve learned to take challenges and turn the deficit into a profit. For example, I learned new rules and ways of approach by being confronted with people of different backgrounds.
In the midst of the corona crisis, we started making colorful mouth masks. Because we were very limited in movement, I started participating in the tailoring workshops and working in the sewing classes; I learned a lot!
In the beginning, my knowledge of the local language was limited. My relationship with the children helped me to bridge the gap in Rufumbira within a year. Now, I speak fluently with the children and the whole community, which is a great gain.
Since I got married and have children myself, my love for the other children has only grown. What I learned at Koinonia is that every child in the world, no matter where it comes from or what it looks like, is equally important. You could easily look at a street child and be misled… Under that street child is a unique person. That was an important lesson for me. I learned to approach everyone with respect wherever I am.
I would like to thank everyone who supports the project for the heart with which they help our children. You are a very important link in the process of change. They are the nation of the future.
May God bless you richly!
