What does it mean to be homeless - Christo tells us

Why did Christo become homeless?

Christo didn't go to school but had to work to help support his family. At home, Christo was treated badly. He therefore chose to leave his family and took jobs with other families. After a while, Christo lost his job and became homeless. He was then forced to live on the streets.

What was it like for Christo to live as a homeless person?

Being homeless was tough for Christo. He tells us:

- Sometimes I felt hungry and I got a headache when I didn't have water to drink.

As a homeless person, Christo was forced to sleep on the streets. There he met other children who were also homeless. These children became Christo's friends. Sometimes when the children couldn't find a place to sleep, they were forced to sleep in the sewers. Despite their difficult situation, Christo and his friends always looked after each other.

- "We shared food if one of us didn't earn enough money to buy food," says Christo.

Christo is no longer homeless

Today, Christo lives in a center for children. The center is called Amagara Masya. At the center, children who have been homeless can get help to feel better. At the center they help the children back to school. The aim is for the children to be able to move back to their family or to someone else in the family who can take good care of them.

Now that Christo is living at the Amagara Masya center, he is feeling much better.

- Here I get clothes and shoes. I eat better, sleep well and play with my friends," says Christo.

Every child has the right to well-being

Christo says that if he were President of Uganda and had his way, he would have built centers for children all over Uganda. Christo wants all children to feel good and have a home.

- "All children have the right to be happy, feel good and eat good food," says Christo.

But Christo doesn't want to be president when he grows up. He dreams of becoming a pastor instead.

This text was originally published on August 1, 2023.