Omar’s aunt soon decided that the family could not longer risk the escalating violence. She fled, taking her son and Omar to a cousin’s home in the country’s capital, Kampala.
Once they arrived, however, the family found little peace. There was little money, no opportunity to go to school and their neighborhood was plagued by crime.
“It was so dangerous — you could not go out at night, and it was not always safe to even go out during the day. We tried to hold school lessons at home, but it was very difficult to focus.”
Finally, determined to find a better life for her family, Omar’s aunt packed her few remaining belongings and sought safety in the U.S.
They moved into a small, sparse Chicago apartment, his aunt doing her best to make a comfortable home for the children. However, before long, the neighborhood they moved into proved to be little safer than the places they had fled. Gangs controlled the area, and Omar and his cousin soon found themselves pressured to join.
Tragically, Omar’s cousin fell into the wrong crowd and has maintained little contact with his family since. His aunt, determined not to lose Omar too, searched for help and was referred to Mercy Home.
Since arriving at Mercy Home last year, Omar has taken full advantage of our academic and therapeutic programs, and has made remarkable progress. He is a dedicated student who makes his aunt and his Mercy Home family proud, and is widely recognized for his work ethic and for serving as a leader among his peers.
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