I am Ochen Patrict, I come from Mura parish, Padibe East Sub County, Lamwo district. I have completed S.6 and waiting to join the university if God helps me. But for now, I have no hope as I have not even got the money to apply for the course at the university (UGX 52500). However, my interest is to pursue a Degree of Bachelor of Arts Education. After completing S.6 in 2017, I applied to be a teacher at Lamwo Central High School. By good luck, I was taken and I am teaching English and Christian Religious Education. However, the problem I am facing most is how to proceed with my studies. I have no hope now completely. My younger brother has just joined S.1 in the school I am teaching and they are chopping his fees from my salary. They are paying UGX 150,000. Only as I am just a S.6 Leaver. I am the one taking care of my two younger brothers. Where I am staying currently, I am living with my stepmother. I am getting a lot of harassment, stigmatization, discrimination and all sorts of abusive languages due to my origin of birth. They always keep telling me time and again I was not born there but when I asked for my place of origin, no one can give me a clear answer. My stepmother told me that it was my father that took me there with my two younger brothers and now I am the one taking care of them. In addition to the above challenge, the community where I am living are not sensitized according to the way they behave against us children born in the bush. Even at school where I have been studying, there were a lot of stigmatisation, discrimination, and segregation against us children born of war. This was both by my fellow students and teachers in both two schools where I have studied my O' Level and A' Level respectively. In relation to my health, I do not shave my hair anyhow. My head was hit by a very hot machete and blood failed to come out I was taken to the hospital and the doctor recommended operated to done but up to now, no operation has been executed due to constraint of financial stand. Every time I am putting on a cap to reduce direct sun heat into my brain. Seasonally, I feel too much headache. This is especially in between November to January yearly. This has affected my A' Level performance as well. From the above, my major concern is if I may be support at the university level, I would be able to change the future trend of our children born in the bush and other vulnerable children because I know I would get a good job and my dream is to start a charity organisation for the children in future.

I am Lamara Irene Ayoo. I am an orphan. I do not have my father and I am living with my mother only. I am the first born but in total, we are eight (8) children. For us children, we do not know where our father is, it is only our mother who is struggling to pay our school fees. Unfortunately, she cannot afford to us all at school. That is why I am at home helping to support my younger followers. I am really requesting for any person who may support us in education despite that we have tried very many organizations and failed to get support. The problem we are facing is that; we do not have any money as a capital to start any business; many of us are at home without going to school because of no school fees; and my mother cannot afford to start any business for me to run in order to help my younger brothers and sisters. I do not have many health problems, however, one of our children has a problem in the lung which really needs medical attention but due to financial constraint, nothing has been done. I therefore, kindly, am requesting for any possible assistant to help our family. It can be in term of school fees, medical treatment, start-up capital. We shall appreciate for any kind positive response in addressing our challenges.

I am called Achora Flavia. I am still at school. My mother is the one struggling to pay my school fees. However, most of the time, l am sent home because my mother cannot pay fees in time. She has to struggle hard to get money and clear the balance. Last year in 2017, I was supposed to sit for S.4 UNEB examination but due to lack of money to clear for the school fees and examination fees, I did not sit. Our major challenges are lack of school fees, shortage of food to eat, problem of money to rent a house and we have no land to live in. However, I would like to become a lawyer in future if I am to be support with my education though I still have no hope currently.

I am Oyella Sharon Fiona, I sat for my S.4 and supposed to go for nursing of which I have decided and picked admission from Gulu School of Nursing and Midwifery but unfortunately, there is no money for paying school fees. The challenges we are facing are; problem of school fees; problem of food; problem of land for both staying and fanning; problem of money for buying medicine and problem of clothes. I want to be a midwife so that I can help pregnant women to give birth safely since my mother and I did not get any help during birth.

I am Candonga Fred; a born of 16th December 1997, a senior four leaver living in Akonyibedo '''A" village, Akonyibedo parish, Laroo Division, Gulu district which I know is my original home. I did sit for my UCE in 2016 and got 34 aggregate and am not in school because neither my mother nor relatives can afford to pay my school fees. I was being sponsored by my uncle who had come back from Somalia but now he is no longer paying me because he has many children to cater for and so I cannot continue with studies. This is happening because my mother does work that cannot help her rise money that can pay me fully at school. I do pottery work at construction sites although it is tiresome to support myself, mother and the sibling at times. I also do farming for home consumption. I am subjected to abuse from relative about my education, mistreatment from my uncle like giving me heavy work all the time, and psychological torture challenges. However, I wish to be a pilot and or bank accountant in future if I can proceed with my studies. I do have tuberculosis as the health challenge. To address my challenges, I strongly believe that the following will help if I may be assisted; taking me back to school and helping me with capital to start a poultry farm. I do think that offering me UGX 2 million would be enough for me to start the poultry farm as this would help to buy all the things needed for poultry. I recommend improving on peace and security; government should collect data directly from war victims to know their real situation and support them. War victims should be advocated for so that they can get assistance and they should also be given counseling services.

I am Adam Mohammad; a born of 9th November 1998, a senior four leaver living in Layibi village, Tegwana, Layibi division, Gulu District in a rental home, though this is also my original home area. I am not schooling because of financial constraint. I do nothing at home but I have financial problems, food and other basic needs. I would like to be an engineer in future. On health challenge I have none. The only solution to my problem is paying for my school fee so that I get back to school. I recommend that government should provide basic needs to the victims of war in Northern Uganda.

I am Otim Godbe, a born of 8th June 1997; a senior six leaver living in School road village, School Road Parish, Pece Division, Gulu District though my original home area is in Laguti Village, Laguti parish, Laguti Sub-County, Kitgum District. Here, we live in a rental home and am not schooling because I have finished my senior six. However, there is no plan for joining university because there is no money to pay my tuition from my parents. As for now, I am doing some little business and my main problem is tuition fee for me to join University. I would like to be an engineer and if possible do a business course. I wish I could get a sponsor to take me to University and I complete my studies. In terms of business, if I could be given 8 hundred thousand shillings I would start up a business to stabilize my life.

I am Omona Denis, born on 05/02/1995. I am from Cubu A and B village, Tegwana Parish, Pece division, Gulu Municipality. My biological home is believed to be in Awalk Kok village, Lakwaya Parish, Lalogi Sub county, Omoro district. I sat for my S.4 in 2016 and got aggregate 52. However, there is no hope to proceed with my education due to financial constraint. What I always do is farming and I always spend my time in village during rainy season and during dry season, I come back to town and other people's works in order to earn a living. However, things are not easy because even real land that I could call mind or our land is not there and sometime I hire the land or garden to dig. And sometime, I get very low product from what I have grown in the garden. As I do not have problem with my health, my dream is to become an engineer if I may get a chance of going back to school. I am kindly requesting for help if anyone can support me and take me to school.

I am Ajok Flavia, born on 8th /10/1995. I come from Kasubi Central, Kasubi Parish, Bar-dege division, Gulu Municipality. Currently, I am not at school because my mother cannot afford to pay school fees. The challenges that I am facing today are as follows: problem of school fees; problem of land; shortage of food and serious pains most of the time. I always feel a lot of chest pain and headache. However, my dream is to become a doctor if I can proceed with my studies.

I am Okema Juma Oris, born on 09/10/1995. I am staying in School road village, School Road Parish, Pece Division, Gulu District. I am in an institute doing a business course but am getting difficulties paying school fees as I am paying myself. I have to look for money myself in order for me to continue. I am doing a small-scale business which is generating for same small money which is helping me to pay school fees but it is not enough. Sometimes, I miss exams if I fail to get money. If possible, I am kindly requesting for any assistant in term of fees payment to help me complete my studies.

I am by the name Komakech Mohammad, a senior four dropout. I am only living with my mother. She has struggled very hard to let me reach where I have stop. The level I have reached has over weighed her effort. She can no longer afford to raise enough money to pay me at school. I really need to go back to school but there seem there is no hope from my mother. I am kindly requesting for any possible assistant that will help me to continue with studies so that I can meet my dreams.

The above were children's voices on different challenges they are facing. We therefore, kindly request as War Victims and Children Networking Team for any possible assistant which may be given to these children to fulfill their dreams. There is no good future for them without education. they are the only ones who can give hope to their mothers. We shall be very happy and grateful for any assistant offers to these children.

Thank you,

Lanam Stella Angel

Founder & Country Director

War Victims and Children Networking