Born and raised in Nebbi district, Uganda, I got a chance to begin moving closer to my dreams when I was offered an opportunity in Cornerstone Development Limited in 2005. I was raised in a family of six (6); three boys and three girls. I am the fourth born in the family. The first three siblings (2 boys and 1 girl); are now all married. I am now through with my undergraduate degree in Accounting and Finance. My two younger sisters who follow after me are still in high schools and I am the One trying to take care of their education and it has not been easy.....My mom has also sometimes given me some support in this.....But all in all, It has been a story of lack and struggle to see them reach whichever level they are in now. I yearn to see them one day finishing their degrees too.....that's the miracle I always hope to see in their lives.
Briefly about my Parents....my Dad was a surgeon but was one day attacked by stroke and is now paralyzed and can't do anything.....he's just seated home. My Mom, because of my Dad, got the opportunity to do some nursing training and she's a midwife. She helps the people in the Village.
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| YES! THIS IS ME......LIVING AND ENJOYING LIFE IN A FUN WAY......LOOKING AHEAD TO MY DREAMS AND NOT SETTLING FOR LESS. |
So, I grew up in a tiny village of Jupakeno found in Nebbi district; in North Western Region of Uganda. Due to high level of poverty, I never got any opportunity to go to any pre- elementary school, but rather went straight to elementary school by age of seven (7). Was so bright in class, but I was about to drop out of school as a result of lack of school tuition in 1994. Fortunately, the Ugandan government introduced a free primary education system in all public primary schools in 1997 and I used this opportunity and finished my primary studies from Jupangira Primary School successfully in 2000. I completed my secondary studies from Pakwach Secondary School in 2004, but still due to lack of school fees I was supposed to join a Primary Teaching College which was free. But, I had a great burning desire to continue and finish High school and then later join University. Luckily enough, in 2005, Cornerstone Development Africa, a Non - Governmental Organization that focuses on Youth :Leadership Development within Africa and beyond; came in and offered to support me in my high school. They took me to their Leadership training school (Cornerstone Leadership Academy), from where I was able to finish my High school studies in 2006.
I always loved music from my childhood and by age of 9, I had already learned and begun playing our traditional instruments (xylophone and Harp) and this gave me a special position in all the schools I went to. By 2005 for example, I had already become the best guitar player, gospel song writer and singer in the whole of my school - while in my first year of High School at Cornerstone Leadership Academy; and as a result, I won the music award for the best performer in an event that brought all the Cornerstone schools together. Though I haven’t produced any song yet, I have dozens of albums that are ready for production as soon as I get the funds.
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| I love playing Guitar and Singing......Just Enjoy it. |
While at the Leadership Academy, I was elected as a Care Group Leader in which I carried out counseling and guidance of my care group members and provided leadership for the group. Immediately after High school, in January 2007, Cornerstone Development Limited offered me a chance to volunteer with them, which later turned out to become a Job which I hold up to date as a Youth Mentor of Kibuli youth corps Home; which is under one of their projects (Youth Corps Family); due to the fact that, I had passed through their leadership training program of Cornerstone Leadership Academy and the great passion and potential of doing the work that I had. As a youth mentor, I have been involved in Picking street boys and bringing them in to the home; Teaching them life skills and Instilling good characters in them; Training them on servant leadership, Helping them develop their talents; Community and team building; house administration; Running the home budgets by making weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual budgets and preparing Financial Statements as per the periods stated showing all Cash Inflows and Outflows; all these based on the character and Teachings of Jesus Christ who is the model of all the work we do, in reaching out to the youth in Love.
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| Having Fun time with the Boys in Kibuli house where I serve as a Youth Mentor |
By February 2007, I got a part time job as a waiter at a police canteen where I worked six hours per day and ensured good customer care and better service. When our High School results came out, I didn't make it on Government sponsorship. This meant I had to join college on a private sponsorshi, which money I didn't have... But God has always never left His children alone. By God's great love, Cornerstone offered to help me out with 50% of my tuition in the university....This was one great news for me...But still I was wondering where on earth I was gonna get the remaining 50%. In my pondering, God brought in a friend, Wendy, whom I call my sister, and had met her while still in High School. When she had noticed my situation at hand, she went and talked about it to her parents. Through my dear sister Wendy, God worked a miracle for me and the entire Weimerskirch family decided they will help me with my remaining 50% of tuition at the college till I finish my college degree.... And indeed, In Miraculous ways like that, God made it for me and I was finally able to finish my college degree on 26th May 2010. When I joined Kyambogo University in August of 2007 for an evening program, in pursuit of a degree in Accounting and Finance; I was promoted from the post of a Waiter to a Cashier and was put responsible for procurement of food items, maintenance of regular stock and income records and preparation of monthly Financial Reports. By January 2009, due to too much other commitments at the the youth corps home, public speaking skills development workshops; and University activities, I had to resign from my position from the restaurant as the cashier.
Following an understanding by Cornerstone Development Limited that, Public Speaking Skill is one of the most lacking among young professionals today, Cornerstone begun extending this skill to University students in the different universities in Uganda. I also got an opportunity to acquire this skill. While in the training, the instructors then, Mr. Wayland and His wife, Courtney, discovered that I was so talented in Public speaking and hence offered to give me more trainings to enable me become an instructor in Public Speaking too. As a result, within the period of October 2008 to December 2008, I acqired this training and when those instructors that were running the program left, I was appointed by Cornerstone Development to continue with the program and help instruct university students, covering the fundamentals of Public Speaking, types of speeches; preparation and delivery of speeches and other essentials of Public Speaking; as part of the organizational social services to the communities around. And in March 2009, I helped instruct 50 students from Kyambogo University and in July 2009, I instructed 40 students from Mukono Christian University.
As it also became necessary for the students in the Cornerstone Leadership Academies in both Rwanda, and Uganda to also acquire this training, I begun extending this skill to the students in the leadership schools by November 2009, with the approval of the Director of the Organization, Mr. Tim Kreutter; which program, I have been running up to-date. As time went on, there arose the need for more other life skills training for the students in the leadership academies; and to that note, I also had to take on the responsibility of helping in giving the trainings, and/or identifying other people who can help in teaching specific life skills topics such as;
Personality/Career Interest Assessment, Goal Setting, Professionalism, CV Writing, Business Writing – (i.e. Letter of Application, CV, Thank You Letter, Memos (more formal name is Memorandum), Resume, Cover Letter, Emails at the Workplace- Do’s and Don’ts; and much more; Personal Financial Management, Global – Cross-Cultural Communication, Networking and Job Searching Skills, Interviewing, Ethics and Leadership in Adversity, and Conflict Resolutions; among others.
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| At CLA Girls after Finishing the Last Teachings on Public Speaking. It was a great fun day. |
On 26th May 2010, I was able to get through with my Degree program at the university. This was one great achievement that was once a dream for me and to experience it as a reality was the greatest of joy to me. Right now, as I am through with the degree, I am organizing myself for something bigger than what I have been involving myself in before and I am preparing myself for any challenge that may come my way.
I Believe,our Destiny is in God's hands and Neither geography Nor family,Nor any circumstance can hinder us from reaching God's Purposes for our lives which are always good. For we can do all things through Christ who Strengthens us. And In Him, We are more than conquerors. We're the best,always and Forever. We are God's Children, Co - Heirs with Christ and have been given all things partaining to life and Godliness. He turns our mourning in to dancing, and our sorrows in to joy. He lights our path and straightens our crooked pathways. When we fall down, He picks us Up. He raises us Up from ashes and sists us with Kings. And above all, In Him (Jesus Christ) alone, do we have our Being!!!!!!!
I know that, God has been with me through all these times and will continue leading me in doing the best and right things He desires of me. And that, there are much more Bigger Opportunities, He has prepared for me.
OKURMU DENIS
