The Courage to Carry Hope Her father was always taking in new students, especially those who had been recently orphaned. “On any given day, I’d come home from school and find a new child at home,” @GladysBdrenda recalls. “My father looked after so many and helped pay their school fees.” Three years ago, Brenda found herself unknowingly walking in his footsteps. Having started out as a school career counselor, she enjoyed guiding students. But one day, during a field trip, she began to wonder: Was this the real need for the young people she met? To find answers, she convened several focus group discussions with students. What she heard shifted her course. Out of those responses, @Rebuildscholars was born. Today, the organization runs an education fund that currently supports 15 girls to stay in school. Yet their work is not limited to paying fees. Brenda and her team often have to sit down with parents to negotiate, to plead, and sometimes to protect. She recounted a moment when they rescued a girl from early marriage—a story that embodies the heart of their mission. Sustaining this work is no small feat. They raise resources from friends, churches, private companies, and anyone willing to give. “It’s tough but fulfilling,” Brenda tells me, with a gentle chuckle. I ask her, “What keeps you going?” “Giving hope,” she answers without hesitation. “Amuno in Ateso.” Then she smiles, adding softly, “That word even carries heavier meaning when said in my language.” Amuno. Hope. My heart goes out to Brenda—and to all who wake up every day to be conveyors of Amuno. #WalkTalkConnect #Amuno #HopeInAction #LocalGiving
