Hawa’s Story

Hawa was born deaf, and for the most part, in Uganda people do not understand, or are afraid of disabilities. Hawa’s mother and father had more children than they could afford to take care of. Unfortunately, Hawa’s father did not understand her, or why she wouldn’t answer when spoken to. Because of this, he beat her when she didn’t respond. Hawa’s mother is a very good woman, and after a time, divorced the father because of his attitude toward Hawa. She is now on her own with ten children and trying very hard to make ends meet. Hawa’s mother loves her children very much and tries to take good care of them, but could not afford to send Hawa to school. There are very few schools in Uganda for special needs children, and Hawa needed to attend a school for the deaf. Hawa’s mother gathers and sells banana leaves to make some money for her family, but it is never enough. 

Hawa has been withe The Peace for Paul Foundation since 2009, and in 2019 she officially graduated from secondary school and subsequently from hair dressing school. She is now working in a salon in Kampala and contributing to her family’s well being. What a success story!