A mother’s support fuels her son’s success
About 267 kilometers southwest of Kampala, in the town of Mbarara known for its rich dairy and honey, lives a family with four children. As the sun begins to set, we are welcomed into the home of Madam Olivia, a primary school teacher. The walls are adorned with graduation photos, family portraits, and motivational quotes.
“Twenty-two years ago, I gave birth to twin boys, Mark and Kakulu. When I found out I was pregnant with boys, my husband and I were overjoyed, feeling that our prayers had been answered. They were fine at birth, but after two months, I noticed something was wrong. Neither of them could turn or respond to sound. When I took them into hospital, the doctor confirmed that my children had sight and hearing impairments.
She continued, “I kept taking them to the hospital for check-ups, but nothing much was done. They grew up, and here we are.”
Madam Olivia is a primary school teacher, while her husband teaches at the secondary level. Both are civil servants with the means to support their children’s education. However, Mark and Kakulu’s disabilities left them unsure of how to proceed, so their attention remained on essential needs.
As the treasurer for the Uganda Parents of Deafblind Children Association (UPDBCA) at the Mbarara branch, Madam Olivia learned about our work at Sense International Uganda. With our support, Mark enrolled in vocational training in bakery at the Uganda Society for the Deaf in 2017. He completed the training successfully and now works at a hotel, while also representing individuals with deafblindness at the project’s steering committee. Mark also represents people with deafblindness at the steering committee level in the project.
“I’m so happy for my children. Mark has achieved a lot, and I see great potential in him,” – Mark’s father.
A milestone opportunity
Thanks to the UPDBCA Coordinator’s assistance, Mark applied for a conference organized by the International Disability Alliance in Nepal. His parents were thrilled about this opportunity. “Mark came home last week to process his passport for Nepal. If they needed guides, I would have volunteered to go with him,” Olivia said, laughing with her husband.
At the conference, Mark excitedly shared his first experience of flying and interacting with other young people. He spoke about visiting a school for the deaf and sharing his own story of living with deafblindness. Mark credited Sense International Uganda for building his capacity and helping him reach where he is today.
Mark dreams big. He hopes to work with major hotels and support his parents just as they have supported him.
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