Iganga, Uganda: At just ten years old, Emmanuel Kodet’s life has already seen more hardship than most endure in a lifetime. Born to parents who had migrated from Karamoja to Iganga in search of casual labour, Emmanuel was left without food, education, or parental care. By the age of nine, the streets had become his only home.
Every morning, he would watch other children walk to school while his own dream of learning remained out of reach. That was until one fateful night when directors of Okoa Hero’s Child Ministries, Micha Koch and Teven Kibumba, met him during a street outreach. Moved by his plight, they decided to take him in immediately.
Okoa enrolled Emmanuel in Primary 1 despite his age, and within a year, he had progressed to Primary 2 at Young Hero’s Primary School in Bulamagi, Iganga District.
His transformation became an inspiration, prompting Okoa to expand its efforts and create a centre for street children, offering them shelter, education, and hope. “When the other children saw the changes in Emmanuel, they wanted to follow his example,” says Kibumba.
“We registered them for school and provided the materials they needed.”
Today, the organisation cares for 21 former street children, all enrolled at Young Hero’s. A generous donation of land has allowed Okoa to erect a large tent as temporary housing while they continue their work in close cooperation with district and municipal authorities.
Mr. Isaac Mutaka, head of Young Hero’s School, says the children are making remarkable progress despite initial fears and struggles. “At first, some were afraid to carry books or struggled to adapt to routines. But now, they are performing well,” he noted.
Still, challenges remain. Providing enough food, medical care, clothing, and covering school fees is a constant concern. Tracing families is also difficult due to limited transportation resources for field visits.
Kibumba is calling on the public, especially market vendors and shop owners, to help feed the children. “Please don’t throw away fresh produce,” he urged. “At Okoa Hero’s Child Ministries, we cook every day. Your donation of matoke, greens, tomatoes, or any other produce can help us serve these children one warm meal.”
Through Emmanuel’s story, Okoa hopes to inspire more community involvement in giving street children a second chance at life.
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