Amanda’s Journey

My name is Amanda and I am 33 years old. I was born in Kampala, Uganda. My father passed away when I was two years old so I grew up alone with my mother. Our neighbours and my school friends became like family and I attended school from 5 – 17 years old. When I was in my early teens my mother got cancer but didn’t tell me initially as she did not want to worry me. She passed away when I was 15.

My mother placed me in the care of an influential business man who she felt she could trust to care for me. I carried on going to school while I lived with him. Sadly, this was not a place where I was safe and I was cruelly mistreated, by him and other associates of his, and suffered much physical and emotional harm. This was where I became pregnant with one son and two daughters. I had nowhere to escape to as I was alone in the world. My son was born when I was 19. I stayed here a number of years and was mistreated by other men. One of these (the father of my two daughters) eventually helped me escape and I lived with him for some time. Unfortunately our lives were under threat and I lived in fear. To escape this I was sent to China where supposedly I would be cared for and given work. This never eventuated. My visa quickly expired so I was then taken to Vietnam, but again, I had no visa. Eventually I ended up where I am now.

Unbeknown to me, this place is one of the most expensive places to live in the world. Work and affordable accommodation is difficult to find. Again I had nowhere to go. I ended up on the streets just so I could survive. My life in Uganda was very far away. I have regular contact with him and am able to send a small amount of money home to support him. My two daughters are in the care of their father and are being looked after. I have no contact with them.

I found out about Sons and Daughters through a friend who was in a similar situation. I was desperate for help and wanted to escape the life I had here but had no resources to do this. I started going to the classes offered at Sons and Daughters and enjoyed meeting the ladies there and learning new skills. I now attend full-time as my goal is to get back to Uganda in a year, be reunited with my children and start a new life with them. At Sons and Daughters I have attended business and computer courses, sewing classes, a parenting course, candle making and physical fitness. The main emphasis at Sons and Daughters is to teach us about God, have Bible studies and we attend worship sessions every day. They provide me with a small fund for my basic needs and also encourage us in the fundraising process (check out my tote bag fundraiser here). The courses I take upskill and equip me in the goal of starting over when I get back to Uganda. As I am ineligible to legally work here, raising money is difficult but the journey has begun and together with my caseworker we are looking at various options for fundraising.

Here is the break-down for how I will be using the fundraised money (if you would like to know more details I would be happy to share my formal business budget, just contact my caseworker, Linda):

Thank you for listening to my story. I hope you will partner with me on the journey of getting me back home.

Blessings,
Amanda