The Power of Being Seen: Mercy’s Story of Hope and Education

“Sometimes transformation doesn’t begin with a dramatic moment. Sometimes it begins with a quiet longing.

For Namugula Mercy, that longing was simple but powerful. She wanted a school where teachers would care for her like parents.

Before coming to Faith Elementary Primary School, Mercy attended a different school in Zirobwe. She was learning, but something was missing. She wanted more than instruction — she wanted guidance, structure, and adults who would truly see her. After hearing about Faith Academy from relatives who were already studying there, Mercy persuaded her parents to let her attend for just one holiday.

From the moment she stepped onto campus, everything changed.

As she walked around the school, Mercy’s excitement was unmistakable. She noticed the clean and orderly environment, the well-organized dormitories, the welcoming teachers, and the confidence of students speaking English in class. What was meant to be a short stay quickly became a declaration of hope. Mercy began telling her teachers that she would convince her parents to allow her to remain at Faith Academy until she completed Primary 7. And she did.

Today, Mercy has been promoted to Primary 7 and continues to thrive at Faith Elementary. Her confidence did not simply remain — it increased. She carries herself with assurance, curiosity, and determination, shaped by an environment that believes in her potential.

When her parents once attempted to return her to her former school, Mercy could not hide her distress. She cried repeatedly, pleading to be brought back to Faith Academy. She insisted that these teachers — the ones who taught with patience and care — were the only ones who could help her achieve the grades she dreamed of for her Primary Leaving Exams. She knew where she belonged.

At Faith Elementary, Mercy didn’t just grow academically; she discovered her passion. Her favorite subject is Mathematics, inspired by the way her teacher explains concepts with clarity, patience, and encouragement. That teaching ignited a deeper desire in her to learn more, understand more, and challenge herself. From that love for learning, a bold dream began to form.

Mercy wants to become a surgeon doctor.

It is a dream rooted in confidence — the kind that grows when a child is nurtured, guided, and consistently reminded that her future matters.

What makes Faith Academy different is not only its academic excellence, but the parental care woven into every part of daily life. Teachers care for Mercy everywhere she goes — in the classroom, in the dormitories, and throughout the campus. They offer guidance where it is needed, correction with love, and consistency that helps keep everything in line, just as it is done for every other child. This intentional care helps Mercy stay focused, disciplined, and confident as she prepares for her future.

Education at Faith Academy is holistic. It shapes the mind, character, and spirit. Through regular devotions and Biblical teaching, Mercy is growing spiritually as well — learning about God, faithfulness, and purpose alongside her studies.

Her journey is a testament to what happens when education is rooted in love. It is a reminder that when children are cared for, believed in, and guided with intention, their confidence grows, their dreams expand, and their futures begin to take shape.

This is why Project Orphans believes in education. This is why we invest in schools, teachers, and communities.

Because sometimes all it takes is one opportunity — and one place where a child truly belongs — for hope to take root and a future to change.”

Written by: Eria Sebaddawo, Faith Academy Head Teacher