FROM HOPELESSNESS TO UNIVERSITY: MY JOURNEY WITH THE UBUNTU PROJECT BUYANA BY NAMULI TRACY, AGE 21.

It still feels unbelievable — I’m joining university this August 2025! As I prepare to begin this new chapter in my life, I look back with deep gratitude and reflection on how far I’ve come. Before I joined The Ubuntu Project Buyana, my life was full of struggle and uncertainty. I had dropped out of school because my family couldn’t afford school fees. At home, we often survived on one meal a day — and some days, we had none at all. Sleeping on the bare floor was normal for us. Education, hope, and a future felt out of reach. Everything changed in 2012, when I was just 10 years old. I had already missed two terms of school when I was enrolled in The Ubuntu Project Buyana while in Primary Two. That moment marked the turning point in my life.

As I grew, Ubuntu’s support never wavered. When I reached Senior Four, I received a phone, a laptop, and a suitcase — things I never imagined owning. I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep that night for fear someone might take them away. But more than the gifts, Ubuntu gave me dignity, confidence, and the belief that I was worthy of a brighter future.

My goal is to use my education to build a better life not only for myself, but also to give back to my community — just like Ubuntu has done for me. I want to be a voice of hope for other young people who feel like giving up, to remind them that no situation is permanent, as long as you keep believing and working hard.

To the Lambright family, thank you for your ongoing love and generosity. And to Herbert and Grace, I am truly grateful for the care, warmth, and guidance you have shared with me throughout the years.