My name is Tendo Jackline. I'm 23 years old, and I graduated this August from Africa Renewal University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration specializing in accounting and finance. I joined God Cares Schools under Buyamba Uganda ministry in 2005, and I'm thankful for their support beginning in primary all the way through university.
My father passed away when I was young, so I grew up with my mom and siblings. My mom used to sell charcoal to take care of us. My siblings and I had no hope of going to school until the day Pastor Bethuel Dongo accepted us all to join God Cares primary school. He was so kind that he gave me everything that I needed to go to school and he always encouraged me to study hard. It was great being at school because I lacked nothing … unlike when I went back home, we had nothing to eat at all. I would collect scrap and sell it to raise money for my brothers and sisters. Life was very hard, but we had to endure. When I reached high school, things got worse because mom fell ill and was unable to work. Mom had nothing at all, she couldn’t even afford our books, so she decided to take my siblings and me back into the village. At this point, I thought everything I had ever dreamt of was coming to an end. I cried out loud and asked God to have mercy on me. Immediately I decided to go and talk to Pastor Dongo to see if he could help us out. After praying, I changed my clothes and made the journey to church. I walked slowly through the crowd at the church down the hill to Pastor Dongo’s office, and I felt so nervous and shy. I knocked and the door, he welcomed me and as soon as I sat down tears started rolling down my face. I explained everything to him and to my relief he was so understanding and kind that he told me not to worry because he was going to cater for every single need at school not only for me but also for my siblings. I was so happy and returned home to share the good news with my family. School tuition was no longer our problem, and for that we were grateful.
When the time came for me to graduate high school I got a job and started working. I worked and saved money because I knew when university came around I wanted to be able to support myself for the things I needed. Although difficult times came, God always helped me succeed, and He was with me through all my hardships. The Buyamba ministry was there for me as well to support me in my tuition. I will forever be grateful to God Cares Schools, Buyamba, and the Dongo family. Mostly I am thankful for Pastor Bethuel Dongo who had become like a father to me. May your soul rest in eternal peace.

I am now empowered to reach my goal of becoming a philanthropist and do the good works of God.

Life was like walking through hell after our dad passed on where we could hardly afford meals or money for education because he was the breadwinner, and everything we had to sustain our lives was taken by our relatives who had forsaken us. We moved and stayed with our grandmother who was very poor and selling local breweries, but she was the only one with open arms to receive us with our mom. We stayed in this poor lifestyle and attended some UPE (free government-funded) school where we could hardly afford even the smallest penny we were required to raise, and kids would make fun of us.

I can say that to be the man I am today from the lonely family and hopeless boy I was, that I have been able to serve and inspire many young people here is because of other people who kept on encouraging me, praying with me, and supporting me. I greatly understand the impact and value of reaching Christ, love, sacrifice, belief in others and faith in God.

struggles, but God moved again on another sponsor's heart named Jackie Grant, and she investigated the opportunity to have Buruhan treated in his own country with a specialized surgeon who travels internationally from the U.S.

In 2017, Buruhan had his first successful leg surgery (pictured above) that would be the beginning of healing. Now, in January of 2018, Jackie is traveling back to Uganda again to stay by Buru's side as he will have his second surgery on his other leg by that same visiting surgeon. While the first time God had moved on the hearts of a group of donors to cover all his medical expenses, this time, a generous organization called Child Springs International is covering all of his hospital expenses. Because these sponsors followed God's lead and had a strong relationship with kids at God Cares School, God's plan was set into motion.