This is Gloria Mercy Laker. Gloria is 22 years old and in her third year of a Bachelor of Laws degree at Uganda Christian University (UCU). She tells her own story as follows…

In 2007, Dad left us for eight years and Mum left us for six years, so we were left in fear given the violent environment in Gulu, North Uganda. We joined our grandmother, who couldn't afford anything as regards to school and times came when our aunt would send me to sell water and eggs in the streets of Gulu. I ended up studying at Laroo Primary School in Gulu, a government school, not because I had money but because I would sell things on the street. Also, I could sit in class because they didn't care about my not having a uniform and I would borrow books from friends and my brother.

Years went by without our parents and I joined Graceland Girls on a study and work program where during school time I would study and during holidays I would remain and work to cover my fees – this went on until I finished my senior year four. I returned home and began to vendor in the market, where a Catholic father got interested in my story and offered me a scholarship to study at their school. I finished this with good grades and was best girl in the district in 2019. On the basis of these results I was offered a government scholarship. Unfortunately, due to corruption I lost this place as I refused to have sexual relations in return for my place. I missed this opportunity and it became more frustrating because I believed I had worked for and deserved it. I resorted to selling cereals and other things as a vendor in the market.

I applied anyway for pre-entry exams at Makerere and UCU. I excelled in both exams and since the Makerere results were released first, I was best girl and I was short-listed for a scholarship in Law, but I missed out again because the coordinator asked for a 7-million Ugandan shilling bribe ($1800), which I did not have. My only hope was UCU. When I was short listed, I paid 500,000 shillings that I had saved since I began selling in the market and began to study online. The time came for us to join physically. I was excited because I would get a chance to reach university, but worried because I wasn't sure for how long.

I studied the second semester of my first year without being able to pay the fees and was therefore not allowed to do the exams. When we broke off for a long holiday, I made sure I did all I could to raise money for the debts I had at school. First I cleaned at KCB Bank, Gulu branch for a month, then I joined Fitchner Uganda, Gulu branch for their field work and helped them translate from English to local people in Acholi and saved quite some money. In total for all the work I saved one million two hundred thousand shillings - I was excited for having done something. Unfortunately, around that time is when my mother was diagnosed with cancer of the throat and all I had laboured for disappeared in treatment for my mother.

It was Mr Washika at UCU Financial aid who connected me with Small is Beautiful Africa and a scholarship that I sought and was victimized for, was granted. What has always motivated me to study Law is the need to speak out against sexual abuse, because many young people go through this, both girls and boys.

Besides reading books, I play basketball, love to sing at church mostly, and also love to dance and travel.

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