My name is Anthony Tumwesigye, I was born in Buhoma in southwestern Uganda, a few meters from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. I am the third of five children, two boys and three girls, from a simple family. After primary school I went to secondary school for four years. After school time I had to work very hard to earn school fees and other necessities and with the help of my parents, which luckily worked out. I finished school with a good grade. Unfortunately I didn’t continue my education, cause the considerable amount of money which my parents and I couldn’t afford.
In 2016 I started doing domestic work with my parents, but the only thing on my mind was how to go back to school. A year ended when I got the idea to visit a local carpenter and asked him if he would allow me to be his student, luckily he allowed me. I started going there in the afternoon after doing some domestic work at home, after three months I knew how to use a handsaw, a plane and other small hand tools. Then I had to be there all day from Monday to Saturday, It was very difficult, it took a lot of energy because we only used hand tools. He started giving me some money which motivated me more, now I could save a little to go back to school.
In March 2019 I got a phone call from Justus and Ronald, they asked me if I wanted to go back to school to study to become a carpenter. I agreed and continued my work. A few days later a miracle happened. I met Ben, Margreeth and Mzee Arjan. They came to the workshop where I worked. I was happy to see them. They asked me a lot. They came to our house to tell about the school. My relatives were happy to see them and appreciated their visit. They promised to take me to school in Rwanda in the coming year, 2020. It was like a dream coming true because all that time I was thinking about school.
The process of going back to school started and everything was arranged. On January 5, 2020, I started school in Rwanda, ready to study carpentry at Rubengera Technical Secondary School (RTSS).
A few months later, the Covid pandemic came. I had to stay in school for eight months without being able to study. I could not go home because the borders were closed. At the end of November, schools reopened and I was ready to study again. Classes started and I enjoyed the time there and followed a three-year course. I am now graduate in carpentry and construction with a first class diploma. In January this year, I had my graduation ceremony at the school. And since June last year, I have my own carpentry workshop where I can practice all the skills I learned at school. I am so happy that I learned the skills to be a good carpenter. Bwindi Children Skills Centre thank you very much for your help and support! God bless you abundantly.
