THE LAZARUS EFFECT
Written by Jennifer Yucus
Photography by Alyssa Sieb
While providing on-site design consultations for my international non-profit clients, I blog my experiences. This blog post was republished by the client for use on their international website. Project funded by the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
Lazarus, from Kaberamaido CarePoint in Uganda, knows all about coming back to life. After becoming an orphan at the age of 15, Lazarus’s life came to a devastating halt.
Uganda doesn’t place orphans into orphanages like many other countries do. It is expected that an auntie or other relative take in the orphaned children and therefore keep them in their home country with their family. Some issues arise when an older male child becomes orphaned as they might be seen as an inheritance threat to their new siblings. That is the issue that Lazarus and his sisters faced when they were left with no parents. He was forced to become the head of his household when he could no longer stay with his aunt.
The responsibilities of a child-headed household are vast. Education is put aside and the children grow up too fast. When the local CarePoint heard of Lazarus’s situation, they put him on the CarePoint list to gain a sponsor. Older children are often overlooked for sponsorship as many people choose young, chubby cheeked babies and small children.
This sponsorship meant that he could finish high school and he eventually went on to nursing school. Health care education isn’t cheap in Uganda. The CarePoint told Lazarus that if he paid part of the fees they would pay the rest. He would make bricks and sell them while also keeping up with his studies. Lazarus recently passed his exams, and as he waits for a position to open he continues to make bricks to “make pocket money to help his sisters.”
By Lazarus staying in his community, he can now support his sisters and make an impact as a nurse. His future was once thought lost and now is full of possibilities.