My dream is a joyful burden
Brian Mutebi gives out scholastic materials to beneficiaries of the Brian Mutebi Dream Scholarship Fund. Courtesy Photos
Brian Mutebi is passionate about the rights of the girl-child particularly their education. His challenging past led him to found a scholarship of girls who can’t afford an education named Brian Mutebi Dream Scholarship Fund.
“If someone asked me what life really is, I would say it is about the decisions one makes. Mine started when I completed Senior Four at High Standard Secondary School, Kateera. I sought to join A-Level but I couldn’t because I had no money. One of my uncles advised me to forget the idea of continuing with school since the school bursary had vanished.”
He said: “Even if you manage to get school fees for term one, where will you get money for the other terms? Don’t bother after all at this level (Senior Four) you are one of the most educated people in our clan.”
Maybe he was right, where would I get the money? Orphaned at 10 and growing up with an aging grandmother and step grandfather! I was only assisted through school by Good Samaritans I found on the way. I, however, refused to heed my uncle’s advice and chose to bank on my faith, I knew that God would make a way.
So, with the little money I had saved from doing casual work during my vacation, I enrolled for Senior Five at Mityana Secondary School.
Determined to succeed
I sold some of my clothes to complete school fees for term one. But luckily, in this school, if a student attained the first, second or third position, their school fees was waived. That’s how I managed to complete A-Level without paying any more school fees.
I read hard and got government scholarship at university there by becoming the first graduate in my village in 2007.
Although I managed to receive a decent education, there was still something that always bothered me - seeing people languish in poverty.
It was kind of a puzzle. But I prayed and I felt a strong conviction to do something about it. I conceived a dream. I wanted to do something that would make a real difference in the lives of people. My journey of grace had made me understand that everyone needs a hand extended to them so they could realise their dreams.
My focus was on providing access to education to poor children. I was convinced that just as education had transformed societies world over, the lack of which in my community undermined would be successful lives.
It was a joyful burden God had put in my heart. Joyful because the thought of transforming lives of people was pleasant to the mind yet a burden because I didn’t know how it would turn into a reality.
I was more or less like the people whose lives I wanted to transform. “Lord, how possible can I do this when I am not any better?” I petitioned.
God told me to use what I had (a pen and paper). With that, I wrote down my dream. Since 2009, when I incorporated my charity, I have been growing in my cause, mobilising and committing resources in areas of practical need.
Ray of hope
The fund has so far benefited 27 young people in primary, secondary schools and university. In 2015, the first university scholarship was awarded to a girl at Makerere University. She is studying Bachelor of Laws. The same year, I was named Commonwealth Young Achiever by the Commonwealth Youth Council United Kingdom.
I don’t want to give an impression that it has been smooth because it has not. Actually I need support. The task is too big to handle singlehandedly.
I have had painful moments. In 2012, when I ran out of job, the girls I had taken on dropped out of school. It was painful. I sold my piece of land I had bought at Kitubulu, Entebbe at Shs4.2 million and invested the money in the Fund.
I believe everyone should get a conviction for something noble in life, a dream, and pursue it.
Your dream is the most valuable asset you have. Because of my dream, I see many opportunities opening up. Last week for instance, while attending Women Deliver Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, I met Melinda Gates, the Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She was happy to hear my story.
Besides the direct education support I give to vulnerable girls, I want to travel the world, share my dream and inspire young people who are held back by circumstances. I want to tell them it is possible.
Mine is a story of turning an impoverished difficult childhood into a springboard and motivation for success. I have learnt it is harder to breakthrough in life when you are born in an impoverished society like I was, but it is possible. One has to work much smarter and pray to God to see and seize opportunities.
