How I Am Defying Odds

My name is Atwine Elizabeth, an engineering student at Uganda Christian University, and the youngest of three children. I come from a family where resilience was not a choice but a necessity.

My late father worked at the Kiteezi dumpsite, collecting plastic bottles that he sold to pay for our necessities and school fees. When he fell ill, our stability collapsed. What began as ulcers became cancer. After his death, survival became difficult.

My mother struggled to provide for us, and my brothers often worked after school to support our education. There were times when my dream of becoming an engineer nearly slipped away.

When I received a scholarship from International Samaritan, it did more than pay my fees: It restored my confidence and reminded me that my future still mattered. For the first time, I began to see myself not just as a student surviving hardship, but as someone with the potential to contribute meaningfully to her country.

Most recently, after completing my semester, I entered a long break and decided I wanted to use it well to gain experience and earn some money. I began actively searching for opportunities that would expose me to real responsibility beyond the classroom.

In December 2025, I was selected to work as a temporary staff member with the Uganda National Examinations Board. For more than a month, I worked from morning to evening, recording envelopes containing examination scripts, confirming that all papers had been fully marked by examiners, and carefully checking that totals were added correctly. The work required full concentration: Every script represented a child’s future. 

Behind closed doors, I witnessed how seriously national examinations are handled. I saw chief examiners and senior examiners work with discipline, integrity, and fairness. I learned that results released to the public are protected by quiet systems, strict processes, and people who understand the responsibility they carry. That experience changed how I view education and accountability.

Just ten days after the marking exercise ended, I was called to serve again, this time as a polling officer during the presidential and local government elections. On election day, voting began late due to technical issues with the voting machines. Tensions rose, and patience was tested. (See news reports to learn more.) Standing there, I witnessed democracy in its raw form and learned how national processes depend on calm, fairness, and commitment under pressure.

In a short period, I moved from being a student on holiday to a young woman trusted to participate in two major national processes. These experiences gave me exposure, confidence, and a strong sense of responsibility. They taught me that defying odds is not only about surviving hardship, but about stepping forward when trust is placed in you.

As I prepare to return to university for my next semester, I carry these lessons with me. I know where I come from. I understand the sacrifices behind my education. And I recognize the responsibility that comes with my opportunity. What once felt impossible has become my foundation.

David Kafambe, Uganda Country Director

David has more than 15 years of leadership experience and a deep knowledge of East Africa. He specializes in managing and developing organizations in development and humanitarian contexts. He has degrees in Community Development, Business Administration, and an M.B.A.