Sam's Schooling

I am Allan Kawalya of Kampala, Uganda.  In March, 2019 when I arrived in Chile for training at age 22, my best friend, died at age 20, leaving our 8 year old brother, Sam.  Please help us raise the funds to educate Sam until I return to care for him. Let me tell you the story.

 During 2001 I met Abdul Kavuma in the streets of Kampala in a place called Bokassa. I met him the first day I stayed on the street at age 12 when my life was a disaster and didn’t have where to stay . At first he bullied me asking what I had come to do there but I remained silent and later we became friends .

Eventually we became friends because we were both surviving the street life.  He later on told me the reason why he left home and I told him of my reasons too. Abdul left home because he was abandoned and denied rights as a child at home when he was a very young boy. We were always strong in life telling each other how we are going to be so hardworking and caring for each other and our families.

Though Abdul acquired some habits on the street like smoking, and alcohol, we remained close friends as he became a brother to me. Things like smoking and using some drugs wasn’t a problem because most of the children we stayed with did that, so for us by then it was normal . Many behaviors and habits went away as we grew up and learning to survive.

Later I heard a call in the area for needy children to learn brass band music at Happy Angels Youth Brass Band, where they also provide a meal and housing . I quickly told Abdul about the idea and he wasn’t interested. I for one joined and I became one of the members playing a bass trombone. Life here was not also so easy as some times I also thought of going back to the street life but I stayed strong .

Abdul could visit me any day and even when I started schooling I also couldn’t spend a day without visiting the street to see my brother.

Life moved on for some time and later Abdul told me that he had a blood brother at the other end of the street. At first I laughed because I knew he was kidding me. He told me that Sam was his blood brother and introduced him to me. I asked Sam to join me at the band but he told me he wasn’t interested as he loves to stay on the street. Sam became our youngest brother who loved me so much and he could come play with the other Happy Angels children. He some times would eat and run.

During 2018, the Happy Angels director, Edrine Wasswa, became ill, and could not handle the large number of children, so he agreed to move all 200+ to a government orphanage. When they were relocating the children I told Abdul of the call and he told me that we were all born to suffer and we could go and suffer the most. Sam said he might go, but he said that if Abdul and I were not going, then he was going no where. It was fine and we started defining our new life of three now. Later I told Abdul of my training to become a qualified piano technician and it was like the best news we all had received. They were always so happy and asking of the progress when there was good news. My time came to travel to Chile and leave my two brothers in Uganda. I continued to speak to Abdul and Sam every day. Hour by hour they were always checking on me and we had brotherly love for each other.

I had promised my two brothers that am coming to learn, then go back teach them and work together for a better future. It was our goal.  As I started my second week in Chile, Abdul told me he was suffering from Malaria and Typhoid and I told him to use our way of self medication. He told me he was trying to do so. Then one day he told me how he was so weak and could not move. I had $350 in my account and as were talking in the night I promised to send him $150 so he could receive treatment in the hospital. He was so thankful and I said good night to him .

In the morning as I woke up to communicate and send the medication fee to my brother, I found a voice message saying Abdul is sleeping all day, not saying anything. I asked Sam to get me an older person to talk to and they informed me that my brother had died.  I had a very bad day and night and couldn’t sleep . 

Before Abdul died, that night he told me, “Allan, I might not make it and am going to die, but always love and take good care of Sam “. I laughed and told him how he wasn’t going to die.

Preparations were made for the burial and I sent $150 for transportation of the body and burial activities. Sam asked me where he was going to stay and I told him not to worry. I talked to a lady who was my neighbor about the situation and asked her to help me with Sam until I return to Uganda . She promised to help him for sometime so that he doesn’t feel so badly, so I can let go. I felt so touched. I later asked her what she needs to help my brother until I return. She asked me to at least buy a mattress for him, clothes, shoes and sandals. The only money I was left with with on the account was $200. I saw everything as so hard. My idea was for Sam to go back to the streets and wait for me till when am back. I shared the idea with Maestro Christian my trainer in Chile, and Doctor Howard. We all decided to send all that I had to the lady to stay with Sam. I also have to at least send $100 for the lady to help her in feeding every month for Sam .

Sam can go to boarding school as soon as we have the $2000 annual fee.  Our goal is to raise $4,000 so Sam can attend until I return from my training. He will be cared for, fed, housed, educated and nursed when he is sick. I have already registered my business, and I have a piece of land in Uganda. Maybe we could construct a little house where we could have shelter and a place to work.