It’s one of those very classical Mondays when we wake up a little bit groggy and sleepy. I have important things to do at 05:30, so I thrown myself out of bed, because my alarm has the merciless name: “I don’t care if it hurts.” Each day, many things hurt, and I don’t care if they do. I choose to live my life in a certain way, and if stuff hurts, if there are wounds, well… band-aid, and onward we go.

Well today was a day that required many band-aids. The strategy that I deploy whenever something hurts is to wait because I know for sure – bad things do not last. Good things do come, we only have to be a little patient. And so, at about noon, my colleague Mugoya Swaliki came to me with the news that the school roof is ready! When the pictures eventually loaded and I could see the beautiful blue roof over the walls and pillars of our school, I held my breath for a moment, thinking, you know – goodness me! I have not been living in vain!

This is not my effort, not my merit alone. My colleague Mugoya Swaliki and myself, we are the team made in heaven; we crib and fight and yell at each other and hug each other (just virtually) and finally, and we work from morning into night to settle things and to organize and to catch up, to build and to heal and to feed. I would like to believe that there aren’t many people out there in this world, who work so well as we do.


And then, the merit, huge and complete, goes to the people that made this possible. Friends, your list is so long, your names are so many, I cannot list them here. But I hold you all in my heart, even if you sent 5 euros or 1000 euros; all have been important and not a cent of your effort and love was wasted. We have come so far – a land, the foundation digging, bricks, cement, walls, pillars, the roof! Millions of construction materials and thousands of details I knew nothing about – I am not a construction engineer. But I learnt with love and with effort, and the budget for each little thing that was needed for the construction, was prepared with great love.

Here we are today, with the HOCT school almost done. Of course, there are details to be added – windows and doors, a kitchen, a toilet, little things, but compared to the effort undergone so far, this is absolutely fantastic. Let us be proud and let us celebrate.

One of the highlights of our activity is to install electricity for the families in our care. It is a little bit expensive, as we install solar panels and the company that provides this service also offers a small TV with the panels, so I think it is well worth.

Today, with Daniel’s help (not tagging you in order to protect you from pirates) we have installed electricity, solar panels, light-bulbs and a TV at Kubona’s house. I am so very happy and the girl is overjoyed.

Kubona hasn’t been doing very well at school last year, and now we thought of giving her a little bit of extra-motivation. She will have light to do homework in the evening and she will improve her language skills through watching TV. I am very happy that we have managed this. Those photos, very plain and raw, depicting the installation process, offer us a very good “window” into how things look like, over there.

We should remember this more often – that while we enjoy all the sweetness of modern life, with electricity, running water and healthcare, there are others for whom such services are unattainable luxuries.

Kubona is very grateful today; let us be grateful as well.

Every once in a while, old and new friends of HOCT entrust me with a little amount to buy food for children in need – either children that need more food, or those who have never received anything.

Below, just an example of someone’s grace and kindness – there are many such people out there, just like Maria, I will give them thanks as they allow me to, and as photos accumulate.

I am happy and grateful. It costs 10 euros to feed a child without sponsor. You give 10 euros and HOCT gives a little bit too, and together we can get a good 14 kg of food, which is life-saving.

So if you can spare 10 euros to buy food for a child who’s never received anything, you may have just saved a life.

The angel below, Maria, fed 7 children (apart her own permanently-sponsored girl).

PayPal: contact@helponechildthrive.com

This child, who has been so so sick, has been discharged from the hospital today morning. We are immensely grateful to all of you who helped him.

You saved a life; be proud.

It’s been a long and beautiful day, filled with the joy of accomplishment. At HOCT, our dedication and hard work have brought about incredible progress in numerous areas. We’ve successfully managed food distribution, ensuring that those in need received nutritious meals. Birthday gifts were delivered, spreading smiles and happiness to the children who could not attend the party yesterday.

The construction progress has been remarkable, bringing us closer to our goal: the HOCT school!

On top of all these achievements, we received good medical news about Kidumbulu Musa, lifting our spirits and reinforcing our commitment to our cause. At HOCT, we approach each task with great love and compassion, always striving to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Progress of our roof at HOCT School construction site!

It is taking shape very nicely.

A Little Story

At various intervals, people ask me how I got involved into HOCT, how it all started, what happened, how am I doing this, why…
It is a very beautiful story – perhaps the most beautiful of my life.

For me, HOCT started in 2019; once upon a time, while scrolling on Facebook, I stumbled upon a post by Mugoya Swaliki who was asking people to write letters to the children in his care, so that they’d develop their English skills. I wrote letters to a few of them and learnt a little bit about the mission he had imagined – helping the poor children in his village.

One day, I received a photo of Mpakibi Madina, holding the letter from me to her chest. The letter was in an A6 envelope, and her little waist was… the size of that envelope.

It broke my heart.

You how how sometimes you stumble across photos that are absolutely horror, of children on the verge of death because of starvation – and birds of prey circling them in the hopes that they’d die soon?

That day I told to myself: I am going to change this photo. Those photos. Any horror photo I receive, I will make it better.

Thus began HOCT, with Mugoya and myself as navigators through an ocean of mistrust and poverty. And then slowly-slowlyy, because of my good friends, good reputation, because of a few good people that trusted me and started helping a child, because of Mugoya’s good an impeccable work, HOCT began to grow.

At the beginning (in 2019), HOCT had 19 children. Today, in 2024, we have 600+ and we keep growing. We built a library, a hospital, we are about to finalize the construction of our school. We never take days off; wherever we go, HOCT comes along.

Each day, ech of those 600 children has food to eat and a good shelter. To the best of our abilities, we nurture their health, we get them life-necessities, such as clothes, basins, pots, charcoal; some of the children attend school.

HOCT is a good place. It is registered legally in both our countries, we pay the necessary taxes, the workers receive fair pay and nobody is exploited. We remove children from labor and we buy them football t-shirts so that they can play and be happy.

For all that matters, we feel we do not live in vain.

In the photo: Mpakibi with the letter from me.
She has now grown, she is healthy, I fixed her house; sometimes, she smiles.

We have recently acquired a wheelchair for Tumwesige Victo, a gesture we hope will be accompanied by blessings of good health and strength for her, and imbue her caretakers with boundless loving-kindness and enduring patience.

My heart overflows with joy for Victo. With the wheelchair, caring for her and moving her around has become markedly easier. Despite her inability to walk, she engages with her surroundings, savors meals and drinks, and finds moments for play—truly, a child like any other. And it is for our children that we must spare no effort.

To those dear souls whose generosity made this wheelchair possible: your support transcends words. To my esteemed colleague Mugoya Swaliki, who undertook an arduous 8-hour journey to and from Kampala to procure it, your dedication is beyond measure.

A heartfelt gratitude extends to Victo’s steadfast sponsor, Dori, whose unwavering support ensures Victo’s well-being month after month.

To all who place their trust and faith in the mission of HOCT and the impact of our work, we are profoundly grateful. We pledge to uphold your trust with unwavering dedication, striving never to falter in our commitment.

Becoming a long-distance parent to a child in our village is a profound journey of heart and spirit. Across oceans and borders, you forge a bond that transcends distance, weaving threads of care and support into a child’s life.

From afar, you offer the gift of education, opening doors to knowledge and opportunity. Your support ensures school fees are met, books are in hand, and the path to learning is clear. Through this gift, you empower a young mind to dream, to discover their potential, and to shape a future filled with promise.

Your embrace extends to health and well-being, providing access to essential healthcare and nutrition. Regular check-ups, vaccinations, and nutritious meals become pillars of strength, nurturing a child’s physical vitality and resilience.

In the shelter of your support, living conditions improve. Safe housing and access to clean water bring stability and security, creating a nurturing environment where growth can flourish. These essentials lay the foundation for a child to thrive, offering sanctuary from the challenges they may face.

Yet beyond the tangible, your role as a long-distance parent offers something profound—a beacon of hope and encouragement. Your letters and messages become windows to the world, carrying words of love and inspiration across continents. They offer reassurance and guidance, weaving a tapestry of connection that bridges cultures and builds understanding.

Through your commitment, you become a cherished presence in a child’s life, a steady source of guidance and support. Your journey as a long-distance parent in Uganda becomes a testament to the power of compassion and the boundless possibilities it can ignite.

Together, across miles and through shared dreams, you shape a story of transformation—a story where love knows no borders, and the impact of your caring spirit resonates deeply, creating ripples of hope and possibility in a world touched by your generosity.

Kindness isn’t just about what we do. It’s also about what we say and how we think. Our words have the power to uplift or to hurt. If we can’t offer help, it’s important to at least avoid adding to someone’s distress. And if neutrality isn’t possible, then silence can be golden, allowing us to reflect on our own thoughts and intentions. We are all… just people who suffer.

I think Jesus was saying that we should pay attention to our thoughts. Are they compassionate and understanding, or are they judgmental and critical? Perhaps we should try and align our thoughts with the kindness we wish to embody. We are all – just people who suffer.

We are all… just people.
Among all this suffering that exists in our world, I am grateful for those who help, or who – at least – do not hurt.