Batte Tonny

When I think about why I started caring about children, I don't think the answer begins with Yelosa Foundation. It begins much earlier, when I was a child myself.

I grew up in Uganda, and when I was five years old, I lost my father. I was very young, and there are parts of that period that I do not remember clearly. I don't want to pretend that I remember every detail. But as I grew older, I began to understand what that loss meant for my life and for my family.

One of the things I remember from my childhood is the simple moments I shared with my father. I remember sitting together and sharing breakfast, including pasta and eggs. Today, those kinds of memories mean much more to me than they probably did when I was a child.

They remind me that sometimes the things we remember most are not necessarily the big events, but the ordinary moments of love, care and belonging.

Growing up without my father was not always easy. But that experience shaped the way I came to understand children, family and the importance of having people who care about you.

As I grew older, I began asking myself a simple question:

What can I do for another child who might be going through something similar?

I realised that a child does not always need someone to completely change their life overnight. Sometimes what makes the difference is simply having someone who believes in them, supports them, listens to them and gives them an opportunity to keep moving forward.

That understanding became deeply personal to me.

I began to see that caring for children is not only about providing material things. It is also about making a child feel seen, valued and remembered.

Children notice care.

They notice when someone shows up. They notice when someone listens to them. They notice when someone takes an interest in their lives.

Sometimes, something that may seem small to an adult can become a very important memory for a child. That is something I have experienced through my work with children.

I remember one particular moment with a very young child, only about three years old. She asked me to bring the people who were supporting them.

That moment stayed with me.

She was so young, but she understood that there were people outside her immediate world who cared enough to come and support her. I remember her smile and her voice.

It reminded me why caring for children matters.

I want children to grow up knowing that their circumstances do not determine the entirety of their future. I want them to have opportunities, encouragement, education, care and people who remind them that their lives matter.

For me, caring for children is ultimately about hope. It is about believing that every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, dream and become the person they are capable of becoming.

I may not be able to solve every problem a child faces. But I believe that showing up, listening, caring and doing what we can can make a difference.

And sometimes, that is where change begins.

That is why I care about children. Let's join hands together to support children.