We are pleased to introduce Emmanuel Godfrey Ogoma as the feature volunteer of the week.
Emmanuel Godfrey Ogoma was born and raised in Kenya and is a graduate of Cambridge International College. After working with several companies in Kenya, Ogoma received a scholarship to study at the University of Nations’ YWAM (Youth With A Mission) program, and it was there that Ogoma’s natural compassion for children was grown into a calling to work with youth and children ministries.
From there, Ogoma connected with Omprakash and spent time with our Partner, Childline Uganda in Kampala, Uganda. He worked with students and children who are HIV/AIDS positive, and contributed tremendously to curriculum and community outreach. Ogoma has volunteered extensively throughout East Africa, visiting other Omprakash Partners such as Kawempe Youth Centre in Uganda.
Please enjoy our recent interview with Ogoma.
Omprakash (Omp): “What drives you to volunteer?”
Emmanuel Godfrey Ogoma (EGO): “What drives me to volunteer is the desire to bring a smile to the faces of children, especially the vulnerable ones. I want to be the change that the world needs, and this is all about following my heart’s desires and impacting the community positively. I want to be there when I am needed and offer my whole [self]. My desire is to see a world free of abuse, HIV/AIDS, and [to see] a world where children are respected no matter what.”
Omp: “What is your favorite memory from a volunteer experience?”
EGO: “My favorite memory from a volunteer experience is rescuing two youg girls, Kizza and Salome, in Uganda. The young girls, both under the age of five and both HIV positive, had been living with an abusive father and a [negligent] mother, both parents also HIV positive. The children, we were told, were surviving on one meal a day, but even that single meal was not [assured]. In addition, the oldest girl, Kizza, was once raped by a man as a result of negligence [by] the mother who could not notice her daughter screaming at the top of her voice.
“When we met the family, the father was on the verge of kicking out the mother and girls, claiming that they were a burden to him. After we brokered an agreement with the [parents], we took over the case and took the children to the nearest orphanage and school. The children are now happy and healthy.”
Omp: “How has volunteering shaped you?”
EGO: “Now I have even more courage to stand in the gap [and] speak my heart for the sake of the needy. I have grown so much that sometimes I feel like what I am doing is not even enough or it’s just a drop in the ocean. Every time I wake up, I pray that God may give me the grace to work ‘til the setting of the sun.”
Emmanuel Godfrey Ogoma remains an inspirational figure within the Omprakash network. His commitment to the cause of common good is unflagging, and he persistently pursues the resources he needs to make a difference. You can do the same. Get involved with a non-profit at home or abroad, and start making a difference today!
In Ogoma’s words, “We all have a duty to help create a better world for our children. It is our call.”
