Local Hero

Kennedy John Mwima (Photo by World Vision Ireland Sponsor, Gerard Lyons)

As part of our recent and very successful sponsor visit to Uganda, we met a man that captured the hearts and minds of the group. His determination and strength in the face of adversity was something everyone could respect and admire.

Sponsor visits are something we do every 2 years. We give all of our sponsors an opportunity to come to the field and see the work for themselves, to see where their donations are going, so to speak.

In November 2015, 19 sponsors came with us to Uganda. It was the largest group we’ve ever taken and, by all accounts, the most successful. But the biggest success story of the trip was, by far, a man named Kennedy John Mwima.

Kennedy grew up in Busitema ADP in Uganda, an area close to the Kenyan border and one of the communities where World Vision Ireland works. Aside from stallholders and shopkeepers along the towns and roads of the main route into Kenya the other main occupation is that of a small farmer.

Kennedy explains his impressive plans to the group

Farming in this area remains very labour intensive, for example, digging is done by hand or sometimes by manual plough. The later being something our sponsors where amazed with and one or two members of our group (being farmers themselves) where quick to note that it wasn’t that long ago that Irish farmers were doing that very same thing.  

 On leaving school, Kennedy felt that life had nothing to offer him. He decided that he would join the army, as at least that way he would receive a wage and be fed and clothed. It wasn’t the most attractive option but it was one of very few opportunities afforded to him as a young boy growing up in poverty.

 However, the community members were aware that World Vision was offering vocational training to a number of young people in the area and, without delay, they quickly nominated Kennedy to be a beneficiary of this training. It was the community that saw the potential in Kennedy long before he even knew himself what he was capable of.  

 As a result, Kennedy trained to be a mechanic. He did this for 2 years and when he returned to his community as a fully trained mechanic he was supplied with the tools that he needed to start up his own business.

Kennedy at the premises of his business

But things took a turn for the worst for him. After finally getting his business up and running and putting all that time and effort into his new career, his premises were broken into and all the tools he needed for his livelihood were stolen.

Although distraught and faced with an uncertain future, Kennedy remembered that World Vision and his community believed in him and he didn’t want to let them down. He felt that if he could tell them his plans, they would surely help him. He approached World Vision and appealed for help in re-establishing his business and when they heard his plans, he was helped with a new set of tools.

Kennedy's business is now thriving and he continues to uphold his promise to his community. He employs young people in the area both boys and girls and trains them, giving them the skills to earn their own livelihoods. His future plans include opening other branches where young people that he has trained and invested in will have great opportunities. Kennedy hopes that one day, no young people in his community will ever again feel like life had nothing to offer them.

Because of Kennedy’s determination and dedication to helping his community, he is now a member of the Village Health Team, monitoring and educating in health-related issues in his local community. He was instrumental in having local latrines built and working on hygiene awareness programmes within the area.  He continues to develop his own business while also working on village-based projects that will develop the community in general.

Kennedy was able to discover his potential, thanks to the generous donations and sponsorship of the people of Ireland. Because of their sponsorship of children and programmes in Busitema ADP in Uganda, young people are given opportunities like those Kennedy benefited from. 

World Vision Ireland supporter Michael Moorecroft gives a balloon to a little Ugandan boy (Photo by World Vision Ireland Sponsor, Gerard Lyons)