My entire life is a lesson in human existence I was born in war, and grew up in war. So many lessons came out of that experience for my family and everyone curious about my commitment to educate.
Even as a three year old, I scantly recall riding on the back of my eldest sister, running from the war in my hometown of Rubaga, a suburb of Kampala, to my grandmother's village in Degeya, Luwero District. Strangely, that was not safe, either. So, I grew up hiding under the bed, away from the "bad guys" with guns, who were ransacking towns and villages, looking for anyone to hurt, raping and plundering, any food or private property they could come across.
Through it all, we survived. Although, I grew up traumatized by guns - guns killed people. Guns were stuck into women's reproductive parts, allegedly because, the government soldiers were "looking for ammunition hidden in women's wombs!" That is horrifying, but that is also a lesson in survival and lived experiences. Guns were also used to deny people of their existence, liberty, freedom, and breath of air!
So, whether I was teaching my little nieces how to walk or learn through play, I was already an educator. Fast forward, graduating from high school, my first job was one of my mom's clients, to teach English language to Bangladesh immigrant women, who wanted to participate in their family retail businesses, alongside their husbands. Bonus, I got to experience and enjoy Bangladesh cuisine, in all its glory and spiceness! Oh! how my palate loved drinking water, milk and yogurt, while all the others guest enjoyed the cultural dishes of their home country!
Moving on, and becoming an advocate for incarcerated person, educating inmates about their rights, fighting for their freedom, and right to legal representation, bond, and bail in the courts of law. Educating the families, that they deserved to educate their incarcerated relatives. Then, educating the public that, not every incarcerated person committed a crime or is a convict or hardcore criminals. Some were in overdue detention for petty offences like "stealing a chicken," or because they could not afford bail, and did not have relatives to stand surety for them. My job was to mobilize the public, to learn that incarcerated persons are just like us, or our friends or families. Many young people, especially students became inspired by my message of volunteering, and joined me in defending the human rights of disposed persons.
I was able to take my teachings to international audiences, as a young person, as a young scholar, speaking to international audiences, sharing my energy, passion and experiences to inspire, advocate and educate. I continued on my journey of inspiring more, even those older than myself. Sitting at the table with influential academics, presidents of large private global philanthropies, mentoring young learners, teaching graduate second language English learners how to prepare and write their research theses. I did it all.
Until I landed into an American elementary classroom. First as a visitor to my son's kindergarten class. Then, I became a substitute teacher in K-12 and special education classrooms. I wanted to learn, "how American children learn." I learned a lot, inspired a lot, and impressed a lot, that my supervisors insisted, I should go get an Teacher Education. I listened, because I saw many children like my son, who would benefit from having a teacher who looked like them. Or who spoke like them, or who came from a place far away, with an accent, like them.
While my students were quick to show me their frustration with my accent, they came around once they realized, I had the content they needed. They related to my stories because I was attuned to their own learning. My own son who was in elementary school at the time equipped with the lingua franca of his peers. I could reference Minecraft to remind children of how they creatively build huge architectural structures with barely any adult guidance. I would encourage them to integrate the same art, critical thinking, and problem solving techniques they use when gaming into working on their reading, writing or even numeracy. Even though some found "Daniel Tiger's" tips on "be a good neighbor," or "well with others," and "try something new," were too childish, and wondered, how an adult like myself would watch "baby shows!", I referenced it in lessons about our community and our neighborhood.
I cannot wait to dedicate myself full-time to changing the lives of our children. I am not an influencer on the internet, but I am an education influencer. This is the field I was built for. This is the field where I enjoy being a part of a community of learners. Partaking of the opportunities to nurture young dynamic intellectual minds. Creating opportunities for and with learners who may have been shunned by societal demarcation of who is worthy. Forging paths in spaces barely trodden by individuals like me, and alliances with those committed to changing the status quo. As well as never ceasing to learn, teach or investigate how to do better and give better. I am gonna keep doing the best I can, grow, create and teach, all around the world.
Because I am a global educator!
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