Sumaya Babirye is a Senior Three student at St. John Bosco Secondary School in Kamuli district. She dreams of becoming a surgeon specialising in eye care. With a clear vision for her future, she is determined to make a difference in the lives of those suffering from preventable blindness. 

Sumaya’s journey to become an eye surgeon stems from a personal experience. “Some people are becoming blind without being treated by a surgeon,” she explains. Her inspiration comes from a relative who struggles with poor eyesight. “She can see, but not properly,” says Sumaya. This experience has fueled her passion to pursue a career in medicine, specifically in eye surgery, to help others avoid similar struggles. 

Before receiving a scholarship from Enabel, life for Sumaya was filled with uncertainty and stress. Her father abandoned the family, leaving her mother alone to care for Sumaya and her siblings. “Our father left us and doesn’t even come to check on us,” she shares.  

Her mother worked tirelessly in sugarcane gardens to provide for the family, often with Sumaya and her brother helping on weekends. Despite their efforts, the family struggled to make ends meet, and Sumaya often found herself sent home from school for unpaid fees.   

“Sometimes I would refuse to go home when they sent me out for fees,” she admits. “I would just sit in another class until they stopped sending children back.”  

The turning point came when Sumaya was selected for a scholarship from Enabel. “They came to our class and called out 25 students,” she recalls. “I was so happy to be among them.” The scholarship has transformed her life, allowing her to focus on her studies without the constant worry of school fees. 

“Now my performance has improved, and I’m more disciplined,” she says. “Before, I wasn’t even sure I would finish my studies.”  

Sumaya is already preparing for life after Senior Four, knowing the scholarship will end then. She is part of a student savings group at school, where she and her friends save small amounts of money each week. “Even if you have just 100 shillings (0.02 euros) , you can save,” she explains. At the end of the year, the group divides the savings based on each member’s contributions.
Sumaya plans to use her savings to buy necessities like shoes, books, and personal items for her next academic journey. With her eyes set on becoming a surgeon, Sumaya is determined to make her dream a reality.