Six years ago, Gabriel was a young student living in Pader District (now Agago District), in northern Uganda. The son of a rural farmer, Gabriel and his family had experienced hardships in during the northern Ugandan insurgency and as a result, Gabriel knew that he would not be able to attend secondary school – the school fees were much too expensive. He had almost given up on his dream of studying Economics, when he heard about Invisible Children’s Legacy Scholarship Program in 2005 and applied.

After going through a rigorous selection process, Gabriel joined the Legacy Scholarship Program as a secondary school student. He excelled in his studies and just last month, was accepted as a university student in the LSP. Gabriel is now studying Economics at Kyambogo University in Kampala.

At the recent Scholarship Award Ceremony, Gabriel shared the impact that the program has had on his life. “In fact, I could say, that [the LSP] is the best thing I’ve had in my life. Because since [secondary school], up to this level, it’s helped me a lot. I would not be able to do the things I am doing now without the scholarship program. Thank you so much,” he said – a message he wanted to share with those he knows sacrifice to support the LSP and its scholarship students.

Gabriel’s father joined him at the ceremony and is proud of his son and all that he has accomplished:

“Today, I feel extremely happy and I feel a lot of gratitude in my heart for the opportunity that Invisible Children has given my son. It is a big day; it is a historic day; it is even a historic moment for my family. Because getting access to university education is not an easy task for a rural farmer and people who have experienced the conflict…I am beginning to see a bright future for my family.”

Established in 2005, the Legacy Scholarship Program aims to increase access to post-primary education for students in northern Uganda. When students enter the program they not only receive a full-paid, merit-based scholarship, but are also assigned a full-time IC-employed mentor.

Good luck to Gabriel and thanks to all of you who support the LSP!

-Malorie