Birthday: 9/27/1996
Family: lives with his mother and father who work as farmers when the work is available
Family Responsibilities: carrying water, gathering firewood, washing clothes, helping out in the kitchen
Church: attends both Sunday School and church
Hobbies and Sports: enjoys group playing games such as hide and seek and football; he also enjoys reading, singing and storytelling
School Name: Kakoni Child Development Center
U.S. Equivalent Grade: 3rd Grade
Month School Begins: February
Month School Ends: November
Program Description: Our sponsored child lives on the plains of Kakoni, home to approximately 6,499 residents. Typical houses are constructed of cement and have corrugated iron roofs. The primary ethnic group is Baganda and the most commonly spoken language is Luganda. The regional diet consists of maize, beans, bananas, fish, cassava, potatoes and green vegetables. Common health problems in this area include malaria, dysentery, worms and AIDS. Most adults in Kakoni work as casual laborers and earn the equivalent of $20 per month. This community needs funds for opportunities for employment and affordable education. Our sponsorship allows the staff of Kakoni Child Development Center to provide Sembatya with Bible teaching, medical care, health and hygiene education, nutritious food, recreational activities, counseling, opportunities for community service, cultural programs, domestic assistance, literacy classes, tuition and skills training. The center staff will also provide meetings and opportunities for project involvement for Symbatya's parents.

Uganda
Capital: Kampala
Languages: English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
Religions: Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42%, Muslim 12.1%, Other 3.1%, none 0.9%
Climate: Tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Life expectancy: Male: 50.78 years Female: 52.73 years
Under 5 mortality rate: 136/1,000
Number of people living with HIV/AIDS: 530,000
Percentage of population living on less than $1 a day: 85%
Holidays and Festivals:
New Year's Day, January 1
Liberation Day, January 26
Women's Day, March 8
Easter Week, March/April
Labor Day, May 1
Martyrs' Day, June 3
Heroes' Day, June 9
Independence Day, October 9
Christmas, December 25: The Christmas season is the most important holiday of the year in Uganda and is very festive. Shopping is popular and usually begins the first week of December. Gifts, clothes and Christmas cards are purchased. Caroling is also popular.
* Uganda also observes Muslim holidays.
Olyotya? (How are you?)
Gyendi. (I am well.)
Nze bampita... (My name is ...)
Webale. (Thank you.)
If you would like to send a message to Sembatya, click here and an e-mail will be sent to Pastor Joe. Your message will then be sent on to Sembatya.