Osbert's Story

In 2008, Osbert Muhereza became a sponsored orphan in ACT. He was 14 at the time and in Primary (Elementary) School. Not unusual for such an older student to begin school particularly because Osbert had health issues. He was born with Klippel-Feil Syndrome which has a fusing of the neck vertebrate. It is physically limiting due to less flexibility but also can cause pain in limited movement. 

His sponsor? ACT's first organizational sponsor, Children's Therapy Corner - with three different locations in the State of Michigan. Children's Therapy Corner has a pediatric therapy program providing essential services including physical, occupational, music and speech-language therapies age birth through young adulthood. (https://childrenstherapycorner.com/) They took a keen interest in Osbert! 

To know Osbert is to experience his never-ending smile and sweet nature. Osbert worked diligently at school made it through Senior 4 which is the equivalent of 11th grade in the US. When ACT initiated the stringed orchestra in Muko, Osbert was front and center learning and playing the violin. When Karen Viele would ask the orchestra members to stand, she would offer that Osbert could remain seated. He would have none of that! He stood proudly and played with the other students. 

In February, 2019, the Travel Team that went from the US to Muko included Lori Marsh, an occupational therapist for Children's Therapy Corner. I will never forget the glee both she and Osbert had when they first met! She got to spend precious time with him there and worked with him physically to give him ideas for movement and lessen his pain. 

As Osbert reached his Senior 4 year, he began researching what vocation might be something he could do and have an interest in. He discovered a Cobbler Training Program and decided that was for him. His sponsors continued to send him to vocational school and he graduated. He returned to Muko but could not get a start because he lacked the expensive 2 machines that it required to begin tailoring, making belts, and repairing shoes. Once again, his loving sponsors stepped in and provided the equipment to help Osbert get a start on his profession.

This has been a real success story for someone who might otherwise have been very limited in his adulthood in Muko. Thank you, Osbert for your sweet, gentle spirit and diligent hard work to achieve what you wished for. Thank, CTC for your dedicated love and support of this outstanding young man!

                            Alexander Gumoshabe, ACT Senior Manager; Judith Tukahirwe, ACT HONOR 

Program Manager; Osbert; Generous Turinawe, ACT Uganda Director