Boy gets scholarship after Monitor article

Mark Olyel and his mother at their home in Amuru Sub-county in Amuru District recently. PHOTO BY CISSY MAKUMBI

What you need to know:

Invisible Children has offered to pay his tuition and buy him scholastic materials.

Mark Olyel scored Aggregate 8 in last year’s PLE, obtaining the first first grade at Mutema Primary School in Amuru District after 20 years. His dream of joining secondary school, however, lay in balance since his parents did not have money to finance his education.

However, the 14-year-old and resident of Amuru Sub-county, can now hope for a promising future after Invisible Children, an NGO, offered to pay his tuition at St. Joseph’s College Layibi and buy him scholastic materials.

This follows an appeal by Olyel’s mother, Ms Margret Lakot, to Good Samaritans to come to his son’s aid.

“I was determined to repeat so that I can get Aggregate Four that would enable me to get a scholarship,” said Olyel, whose luck came after the Daily Monitor published a story about his dilemma last week.

Pledge for hard work
The Communication Specialist at Invisible Children, Ms Florence Ogola, said they were moved by the story of the boy whose dreams of becoming an accountant hung in balance.
“We have taken him on our scholarship scheme and we hope there will be a difference in his life.”

Ms Ogola, however, said the scholarship would continue basing on Olyel’s performance and discipline.
Olyel, who had the previous year obtained Aggregate 15, repeated Primary Seven in the hope that he would get Aggregate 4, the best attainable grade.

“I am grateful for the scholarship. The task is on me to do the needful to remain on the scholarship scheme and I pursue my career dreams,” he said.