Age: 7 | Class: Primary 1
Joel is a bright and thoughtful 7-year-old boy who comes from a heartbreaking, child-headed household. His life changed forever when his mother passed away during childbirth, leaving him and his siblings without any adult care. Joel and his younger brother were placed in foster care, but sadly, the arrangement didn’t last. They have now returned to live with their 16-year-old sister, who had to drop out of school after Primary 1 to care for the family.
 
His 13-year-old and 11-year-old brothers are now attending school with the support of the YES Uganda sponsorship program. Joel longs for the same opportunity—to go to school, to learn, and to simply enjoy being a child again. He has already experienced far more hardship than most children his age. With stability, love, and the chance to learn, Joel’s future could look very different.