For the little children on the streets, how do they get on and on whose prayers are they living? 

I was in Kampala city the capital of Uganda, late at about 9pm, just on the street waiting for a pick up by a friend. The street is one of the city’s busiest roads, crowded with traffic both human and vehicle. I cross the road and before I reach the other side, right in the middle a little guy about 8-10 years approaches me.

A basket on his head, carrying what tried to look like bananas, he calls at me and I stop.

He says, “Good evening, madam. Can you please buy some bananas” He goes ahead to show me the bananas, and nothing had seen bad days like they had. Their yellow was part black, they were sort of shriveled and looked like they would give you hell all night if you dared to sample even one. Usually I would say, no thank you and walk away. But this was different. For starters, the little boy was polite and then his English was perfect. Now don’t get me wrong, am not stereotyping here but you’ve to agree with me that most of the kids roaming the streets are outright rude and use the common local language.

So out of curiosity I asked him whether he goes to school to which he replied yes. But it was 9pm and the week had just started meaning he definitely had school the next day. So I ask him if it’s not too late for him to be up, and he tells me he can only go back home if the bananas are sold out. Wow! From the looks of things that was a long time coming and I thought he was overly optimistic. But I knew this wasn’t optimism but something like ‘I have no choice-tism‘. 

Growing up we surely did not have everything but I did not have to sell bananas just after school for my tomorrow to be secure. This little boy had a story, just like the rest at Ba Nga Afayo Initiative but who cares enough to ask. If they ask, do they listen? Listening is you doing something about the story, not just saying sorry or shaking your head and imagining how lucky you are. 

How many of you remember to pray for these children? So am writing to tell you to do just that. Pray! It doesn’t always have to be about you when you approach God. Talk to Him about the life of children at Ba Nga Afayo Initiative Uganda, their future, protection and best of all their need to experience love just like other children.

Let them survive on your prayer.

By Maria Rinah Namatovu
Manager for Individual Giving