Nusifah was raised in our orphanage in Uganda. She graduated top of her class and now has received admission to the University of Toronto Masters of Laws Program with a $15,000 scholarship. Read her story below and participate in her transformational story.

A letter From Nusifah:

Life has been a relentless climb for me. Born in a remote village in Uganda, my earliest memories are etched with the stark reality of poverty. Our house was a tiny space where my mother, my five siblings, and I would squeeze in on top of each other each night. My mother, an ailing single parent and our sole provider, barely earned a dollar a day – a sum that stretched impossibly thin to feed six hungry children.

Days were often a desperate scramble. There were times when our pots were bare. On market days, my siblings and I would venture onto the bustling streets, our young eyes scanning for any discarded food, often rotten, just to have something to eat. By the time I was ten, the weight of our hardship pressed upon me. I started hawking yellow bananas, pungent onions, and ripe tomatoes, tirelessly navigating the crowded markets to earn enough money for my school fees and, when possible, to bring a little food back home to my family.

Those were tough years, filled with the constant ache of hunger and the gnawing worry of school fees. But amidst the struggle, I was eventually taken to an orphanage, a sanctuary that provided me with food, safe accommodation, and the precious gift of education.

Joining university on a scholarship felt like a miracle. It was an opportunity I never took for granted. Even while studying, I felt a deep responsibility to give back to the community that shaped me. I volunteered with numerous organisations, dedicating my time to health initiatives, housing projects, water and sanitation efforts, and human rights outreach – all to uplift the people from where I came.

Then, during my second year, the world was gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Undeterred, I saw it as another challenge to overcome. With characteristic determination, I started a small passion fruit farm to earn money, my heart set on starting a business for my mother, hoping to ease her lifelong burden.

Now, I stand on the precipice of another incredible opportunity: I have been offered admission to the Master of Laws (LLM) program at the prestigious University of Toronto. This acceptance is a testament to years of relentless effort, fueled by the dream of using my education to advocate for justice and uplift vulnerable communities.

However, the financial reality of pursuing an international degree is daunting. Coming from my background, the cost of tuition, accommodation, and living in Toronto is far beyond my reach without support.

This campaign is my heartfelt plea for your help. Your generosity, no matter the size, can be the lifeline that turns this dream into a tangible reality. 

Your contribution will directly invest in my potential to become an effective advocate for change. I hold a strong personal aspiration to one day join the National Assembly of my country, where I can directly contribute to shaping legislation that will change lives. Your kindness will forever be etched in my journey.

With immense gratitude,
Nusifah Nasaazi