Nankinga Justine jokingly asks me how I do not know her. The 27-year-old once had her pictures published in the region’s newspapers every day for nearly a month when her family was searching for her. She admits it was a difficult time, but has moved past it now. She is now a passionate play leader for children in BRAC’s play lab in the Wakiso district of central Uganda. She exudes a very playful aura, a natural result of spending long hours with small, excited children.
“I want to give children the guidance I never had as a child. I always tell young girls to dream first, and marry later.
My daughter is now in the same grade I was in when my class teacher raped me. I was pregnant at 14. My father chased me away out of shame. I lived on the streets, until an elderly lady took me in. She was a devoted Catholic. I was afraid to tell her that I was pregnant. She loved and cared for me still, without judgment. She inspired me to become a nun.
I worked in a market downtown during my pregnancy. Soon my family was trying to look for me again. My photographs were on newspapers. It said I was ‘missing’. When I finally gave birth to my daughter, her father’s family took her away. It broke my heart. But I soldiered on. I joined school, and finished a course on childhood teaching.
I love teaching children. I love seeing them sing and dance. I always make sure they feel safe. My daughter and I are very close. I try to be open with her. We are like close friends. I want her to be able to share her feelings and experiences with me. I do not want any child to go through what I went through.”
7,200 children in Uganda, Tanzania and Bangladesh gather in 240 of these learning spaces under the guidance of play leaders – all of whom are women recruited from the local community. Play leaders are trained to build confidence and empathy in students, and create a culture of play in the classroom.
Edwinah Nassuna is a communications officer of BRAC Uganda.
