From Farm to Pharmacy: Wilson's Journey

The email from the university arrived, confirming my return date for the start of the second semester: January 3rd, 2025. A tight deadline loomed, but I immediately contacted David, and we began brainstorming ways to raise the necessary funds. Time was short, but David miraculously secured some initial funding, enough for me to report to campus on the very first day. A wave of relief washed over me. Unlike many of my friends, still scrambling to gather tuition and fees, I was back at university, ready to begin. My second semester started smoothly. Within the first week, I’d paid the hostel fees in full and even made a dent in my food expenses. Classes began immediately, as scheduled, and I attended every lecture without the worry of outstanding payments hanging over my head. As my studies progressed, David launched another fundraising appeal. We aimed to cover the remaining balance for food and accommodation, but the generosity of the donors exceeded all expectations. We received enoug...

In early December, our first semester ended, and we had a three-week break before the start of the second semester. I took the opportunity to travel back to my village, Bupadhengo, to spend time with my mother and siblings. The break was a welcome change of pace, filled with both family time and the familiar activities of village life. Once home, I helped my mother with the farm work. We harvested the last of the dry maize, a staple crop in our region. Then, to prepare for the next planting season, I helped plough the fields under the hot sun. We also planted a variety of vegetables – things like spinach, tomatoes, and onions – which we would use in our family meals. With the dry season upon us, regular watering was essential, and I spent time each day carrying water to the newly planted seeds, ensuring they would germinate and grow. A photo of me in the garden picking the dry maize, which we usually do manually in Uganda. We always move around the whole garden picking from...