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| Innocent travelling to Gulu with Kulika |
Innocent was awarded a scholarship by Kulika
and University of Manchester to study a Masters in Chemical
Engineering, starting September 2008. “When I got the
email saying I was successful I was just very excited, I knew
my time had come.” “Manchester is the industrial
heart of England so I expect it to be the best for industry-related
engineering”.
Innocent is one of 12 children, and his family is exceptionally
proud of him, confirming that his hard work and determination
has paid off.
Innocent went to school in Arua and his family’s
ancestoral home is in Gulu district. Both areas suffered from
rebel activity over the past two decades, which Innocent admits
to witnessing. Innocent’s family were forced to leave
their village and at the time of writing few have returned
on a permanent basis. Innocent’s uncle explained: “This
war has taken too long, when fighting forces move they keep
dropping ammunition, land mines. People fear buried land mines.”
Innocent graduated from Makerere University, Kampala in 2005
where he studied Industial Engineering. Since then he has
been working at both Gulu College and Gulu University lecturing
in Chemistry. Owing to his commitment he was given the role
as director of studies at Gulu College in 2007 which is the
2nd largest college for science, renowned for its excellent
teaching and ability to make the best use of limited resources.
Innocent has great things in store on his return from the
UK “I will start up my own company dealing in manufacturing,
procurement & tendering, interior design” and “I
will build a family house so we can settle.”. In the
future he hopes to start an institute for chemical engineers
including a laboratory and library to inspire Uganda’s
future chemical engineers!
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| Faridah at Sipi Falls, Kapchorwa |
Faridah won a scholarship to the University
of Manchester to study a Masters in Geotechnical Engineering.
Faridah is already a trailblazer being the first female engineer
from her village, Kapchorwa. She has worked with the Ministry
of Works assessing various terrains for Uganda’s future
roads. She admits that her position is a unique one: “Its
very unusual considering the culture I come from. If I could
point out female genital mutilation [a practice in the region].
I want to inspire and help the ladies there to have a positive
attitude to education.”
Faridah’s parents believe that both boys
and girls should be equally educated and are sure that Faridah’s
success will go on to inspire her 17 brothers & sisters,
and the community as a whole. The option of self-financing
Faridah’s studies was not possible given the family
size, her mother explained “I don’t think we’d
manage. We are so grateful, we are really overwhelmed.”
Faridah dreams of returning with her Masters and coordinating
the completion a road connecting Uganda with Kenya: “The
road only goes to Kapchorwa, can you imagine if you built
it to Kenya?”.
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