"I write him letters and pay for his studies." A Belarusian woman took a boy from Uganda under her care

Yauheniya has been living in Poland for four years. For several years now, she has occasionally helped charitable projects in Africa. She learned about this initiative from a colleague who periodically travels to Africa and helps local residents.

"As a rule, they go there for several months. They buy beds for African families with donations. Floods are frequent there, and because of this, furniture always becomes unusable. In addition, they help with treatment, food, and stationery."

Previously, Yauheniya transferred money for food and other needs of children, and this year, for the first time, she took a schoolchild under permanent guardianship.

"My acquaintance said that there were already two children from Africa who needed guardianship. She couldn't financially support both permanently, but she didn't want to choose between them. If you choose one, what about the other? She asked if I wanted to join in helping."

Yauheniya immediately agreed. She signed an agreement with a foundation that helps African children. The agreement is unlimited. It can be terminated if the guardian, for some reason, can no longer help the child under their care.

"The main thing is to do this in advance so as not to interrupt the child's help and education."

As part of this assistance, the guardian must stay in touch with the child, write them motivational letters, and pay for their schooling.

"School education there is paid. And not everyone has the opportunity to study. As a rule, far from everyone can afford to study at school. Every month I write him letters and pay for his studies — 200 zlotys monthly," says the Belarusian woman.

The family has three beds and two old mattresses

Yauheniya was able to get to know her ward better through correspondence. The boy wrote her his story.

15-year-old Henry lives in a village in western Uganda, together with relatives in a wooden house. The family has only three beds and two old mattresses, which they have to share. His parents earn money through casual odd jobs and a small farm, but this money is not enough for all the needs of the large family.

Henry is one of nine children. But two of his brothers died: one was hit by a car, the other died five years ago after a long illness.

Not all children in the family were able to finish their studies: some interrupted their education due to illness, others due to poverty. Once, his father even had to sell part of their land to pay for the treatment of one of his sons.

One brother set the house on fire, the other threatened to kill him

When Henry was little, his older brother, who had serious mental problems, set the house on fire while their parents were away. The boy was inside and suffered severe burns. He spent more than three months in the hospital.

The situation in the family remained dangerous: one of the older brothers threatened Henry with violence. And then his mother gave him into the care of his uncle, who ran a home for orphans. He spent five years there. After that place closed, the boy moved in with his grandparents, and after his grandfather's death, his grandmother continued to raise him.

"Henry, despite all this, really wants to get an education — to study at the local school, and then enter university and become a doctor. His dream is to save people. And I will be happy if my participation helps him in this," says Yauheniya.

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