What is your name and how old are you?

“My name is George and I am 13 years old”

What grade are you and which School do you go to?

“I am in grade six at Shimukuni Basic School.”

How many brothers and sisters do you have all together? From first born to the youngest:

“Hastings (male) was born in1986, Concilia (female) was born in1991, I (George-male) was born in 1994, Rahab (male) was born in 1997, Harold and Fraser (both male twins) were born in 1999, Gerald (male) was born in 2001, Joyce (female) was born in 2003, Tasha (female) was born in 2005 and lastly Lushomo (female) was born in 2007.” Therefore, we are six males and four females,” George said being assisted by the by his mother to clarify on dates of birth.

Are both your parents alive and do all of you live with them?

“Yes, both parents are alive and all of us are living with them here except for Hastings who is living on his own. We are still living with our parent because we are still in school and young” George says.

How do you earn income to support the family?

George’s mother Regina explains, “We merely survive on agriculture; sometimes I sale goats that I received from World Vision for me to be able to buy uniforms and pay school fees for my children otherwise we are unable to harvest enough to take us to the next farming season usually because we lack fertilizer that could help us produce enough food. If we could buy fertilizer, at least we were going to have enough food but we have nowhere to find money.

In total, I look after 15 people including orphans and they are all supported through the farming we do. And in the case of natural disasters like the situation was last year when lost crops, it is very hard to support these children. Otherwise my main source of income is the goats that I received from World Vision.

Regina, what do you enjoy doing most?

“I love going to church, sharing the Good News with others and story telling.

George, what do you enjoy doing most?

"I love education and my favourite subject is English. I want to be a very good listener and speaker when my dream is realised."

If that is so, how did you perform in class last term?

“I was number five in a class of 65 pupils.”

What do you like and don’t like about school?

"We have not been learning for a long time because teachers don’t come to teach us, how can we improve? He asks, “They are making our lives difficult because we want to learn. We need better schools here for serious teachers to come here. George says but looking sad.

What work do you do at home?

"Helping mum and dad in the field especially now that we are preparing for the coming of this year’s rainy season; I am also helping in making the new house and drawing some water from a water borehole", George says shyly.

What was it like in your village before World Vision started partnering with you?

"Mainly it is education that was going down. We used to face a lot of problems before World Vision came here especially in the area of education. For example if a child had no uniform, they would be chased from school and stay home until money was found maybe after six months before the uniform could be bought for them to go back to school hence children could either drop out of school or remain behind, said by George’s mother Regina.

What has changed for your family and your community?

“The Goats and chickens I received from World Vision have changed our lives. I would have not managed to support these children without World Vision giving me the goats. This and many other things have helped the community as well especially in the area of education; you are doing a commendable job,” Regina says.

What is the best thing that has changed/ happened since World Vision started partnering with the community?

"Education and agriculture have improved a lot in this area and the pace at which these developments are moving will assist people of Keembe to get out of extreme poverty. For example a lot of people at least have something to rely on despite being affected by floods last farming season.

"Most people are now depending on vegetable production (gardening) because World Vision trained and encouraged us to practice irrigation systems such as drip irrigation. They later gave us treadle pumps, pipes and tanks for drip irrigation and they give us seed for tomatoes, onion, rape, cabbage, maize etc. When we harvest these, we are able to sell to support our families hence the effects of the drought are not so much felt compared to the time when World Vision was not here. Goats and chickens are also a great source of our income in the community."

What still need to be improved/changed in your community?

"We need schools because we only have one school in Shimukuni area here yet the place is very vast. The school is only able to accommodate very few pupils and if they are accepted, they are crowded in class making it difficult for children’s proper learning. Also most children start school at a later stage because demand for school is high especially after the coming of World Vision in this area."

"There are so many children cannot be accepted for enrolment yet their keeps going up. This discourages many parents from sending their children to school because other schools are very far and we cannot afford to be paying boarding fees starting at the child’s tender age when they are in grades like one to seven. We also do not have a secondary school nearby as a result we have to send our children to boarding schools which are far. We also need more clinics because the only clinic we have is usually congested." (Said by George and Regina)

What do you think of being sponsored?

“I am very happy that I am sponsored now; I know I will have bright future. I really appreciate World Vision for their work they should continues with the good work they are doing,” George says.

What do you do on an average day-both during the week and on the weekend?

“I go to school and study during the week and every evening, I go to play football, my favourite sport. On Sunday I go to the field and in the evening I go to play football and on Saturday I go to church with mum,” (George says).

What would you like to be when you grow up and why that carrier?

“I want to be a Lawyer,” he laughs, “because it pays well.”

What is your hope/dream for your future, your family and that of the community?

"I hope that all my dreams shall come true so that I can be able to help my family and the community when I grow up", George says.