In a dusty village outside Ngozi, a young boy named Patrick used to sit on the ground during class. His school had no enough desks, no electricity, and few books. But Patrick’s eyes always sparkled with the hunger to learn. Every day, he walked five kilometers barefoot, carrying a torn bag with only one exercise book.
One afternoon, during a visit to rural schools, our team met Patrick. Despite the lack of resources, he was the top of his class. His teacher told us he often stayed behind to help others learn and dreamed of becoming an engineer. But Patrick’s future was uncertain, his family couldn’t afford school fees, and he was at risk of dropping out.
That was the beginning of something greater.
We offered Patrick a full scholarship through our Education Support Program, covering his tuition, books, and even a new school uniform. But we didn’t stop there. Patrick joined our youth mentorship and training program, where he met young professionals who inspired him to dream bigger. He learned problem-solving, leadership, and creative thinking.
During one workshop, Patrick came up with a simple but brilliant idea: build low-cost school desks using recycled wood and metal. With a small grant from our Youth Innovation Fund, and guidance from local carpenters, he built 15 desks for his school. The headteacher wept when she saw them.
Patrick’s project was featured in a local newspaper. More schools asked for help, and he trained five other students to replicate the model. What started as a personal struggle turned into a community solution.
Today, Patrick is in high school, thriving, mentoring others, and still building desks in his free time.
Because when you invest in youth, you don’t just change one life you spark a ripple that touches a whole village.