From the Streets to the Classroom: Asuman's New Beginning
When Peter's Heart first met Asuman Kavuma in December 2025, he was spending his days searching for anything that could help his family survive.
Living in the Kironde settlement of Sembule—one of Kampala's largest informal communities—Asuman shared a small makeshift shelter with his mother, Irene, his older brother, and two younger sisters. Their home, built on government railway reserve land, also served as the family's charcoal shop, the only source of income for the household.
Like many single mothers in the slums, Irene worked tirelessly but could not earn enough to meet her children's basic needs. Neither of the children's fathers played a role in supporting the family, making every day a struggle simply to find food.
Although Peter's Heart initially met Asuman's older brother, the team soon recognized that Asuman was especially vulnerable. At primary school age, he had attended school for only one three-month term before financial hardship forced him to leave. Since then, he had spent his days collecting scrap metal and plastic bottles from garbage sites to earn small amounts of money.
Each morning before sunrise, Asuman and his brother walked to nearby produce markets hoping to gather fruits and vegetables that had fallen from delivery trucks. If they were lucky—and faster than the many other children competing for the same food—they could bring enough home for their family and grandmother to share. Some days they returned empty-handed.
When Peter's Heart invited Asuman to enroll in school, even his grandmother was hesitant. Losing Asuman meant losing one of the family's strongest contributors to their daily survival. It was a heartbreaking reminder that, for families living in extreme poverty, a child's education can feel like an impossible luxury when that child also helps put food on the table.
Today, Asuman's life looks very different.
He is thriving at Christ Care School, where he is discovering the joy of learning and beginning to speak simple English phrases. For the first time in years, he has the stability of attending school every day, along with something many children take for granted: three nutritious meals.
Asuman (left) enjoying a meal at school.
That consistency has changed more than his physical health. It has given him the freedom to be a child again.
When Peter's Heart first asked Asuman what he wanted to be when he grew up, his answer reflected the world he knew. He dreamed of working hard enough to buy a van so he could earn a living as a taxi driver in Kampala—a practical dream rooted in providing for himself and his family.
During those early conversations, Asuman also shared something that revealed the weight he carried. He told the team he did not believe in God because, from everything he had experienced, it seemed that God had forgotten families like his.
His story reminds us that poverty doesn't only affect a child's education or physical well-being. It can also shape how they see themselves, their future, and even hope itself.
Today, Asuman is surrounded by teachers, mentors, nutritious meals, and the opportunity to learn. He is gaining confidence, building friendships, and discovering possibilities that once felt out of reach.
For children like Asuman, education is about far more than academics. It provides safety, nourishment, stability, and the chance to imagine a different future. Through Peter's Heart, that future has begun.