Arlene’s Story

*Arlene’s story could easily have ended so differently, with the poverty cycle grinding on for another generation. Thank God for child sponsorship, which offers committed support until the vulnerable child is a strong adult.

Arlene fell pregnant when she was just 14 years old. She had been at secondary school for only one term.

Her older boyfriend went into hiding, as he had committed a criminal offence. Her mother, a single parent herself, chased her out of the house and said she couldn’t come back.

Arlene had no-one to turn to – except the Global Care Uganda team. Arlene had been sponsored since she was a young girl, and although she thought her education was probably over forever, she hoped they could help her now.

Global Care did not fail her. Our Kampala team identified an organisation working to support teen pregnancies, and Arlene was able to stay in their residential shelter until her daughter was born.

In the meantime, Global Care offered counselling to both Arlene and her mum, so that her mum would allow her back once the baby was born.

A year after Arlene’s daughter was born, with the support of Global Care and her sponsor, Arlene was able to resume her education. Now aged 20, Arlene is in her final year of A levels and her daughter is also thriving.

“Thank you for all the help you gave me when I was pregnant, for the gifts my sponsor sent to my baby, and the gifts you gave me every year”, says Arlene.

“I never ever thought that after conceiving while at school, you would consider taking me back to school, for me I knew my school dreams had come to an end.

“Yet I am now in senior six, and my little girl is also in baby class. I want to go to university, I want to be able to give my daughter the best in life. I am forever grateful for the opportunity of education you gave me. Thank you so much!”

Could you give the opportunity of education to another girl, and help break the poverty cycle for good? Sponsor a child for just 83p per day and change their life forever.

Children's names are changed and their photographs obscured for reasons of protection.