From Financial Hardship to Civil Engineer: How a University Scholarship Changed a Life
Every year, through our Secondary Scholarship Program and Internship Program, we have the privilege of selecting five to seven outstanding students to join our University Scholarship Program. These scholars represent the resilience, brilliance, and untapped potential found in lecture rooms every day. Among our 2024 university scholarship cohort is William Nsibuka, a young man whose journey from financial uncertainty to excellence in civil engineering is nothing short of extraordinary.
When I reflect on where I started, the odds were stacked heavily against me. Joining an institution of higher learning felt like an unattainable dream; my chances of attending university were less than 5%. Financial resources at home were strictly limited, and supporting my education alongside my siblings’ was a constant uphill battle.
In primary school, I missed classes because of unpaid school fees, and that broke my heart. I was deeply committed to my studies and hated falling behind. By the time I reached secondary school, missing class had become a painful routine. However, Action in Africa (AIA) later generously covered 80% of my secondary school fees through its Secondary Scholarship Program, while my family still had to cover the remaining 20%. To cover that balance, I often had to make difficult choices. I frequently absconded from school to find work on local construction sites, earning whatever I could to pay my outstanding fees.
Without a university scholarship, my path was uncertain. I would likely have ended up repairing vehicles in a garage or teaching at a primary school to survive. After secondary school, I taught upper-primary mathematics to get by until Action in Africa selected me for an internship, opening the door to university and a brighter future. Driven by a quiet ambition to become an engineer, I received career guidance from Action in Africa that redirected my passion toward civil engineering. Now a third-year student at IUEA, I have seen my distant dream become a reality through an AIA University Scholarship. This opportunity has inspired me to redouble my efforts and pursue academic excellence.
Beyond financial aid, AIA’s programs, from IT sessions to creative arts, have sharpened my critical thinking, communication, decision-making, and time-management skills. Today, I apply these skills to serve my community by advising on construction materials, preparing project cost estimates, and mentoring my siblings to aim high despite the odds.
Over the next three to five years, I aim to secure my professional engineering license through the Engineers Registration Board (ERB), allowing me to lead independent projects and approve structural designs. By mastering advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools, such as Autodesk Revit, I plan to direct multidisciplinary teams on impactful infrastructure projects while giving back as a mentor to inspire and guide the next generation of engineers.
To my fellow AIA scholars sitting in classrooms today: believe in God, hold fast to prayer, and maintain a clear vision. As Habakkuk 2:2 reminds us, “Write the vision, make it plain upon tables, so he may run who reads it.” Every level of education brings temporary challenges; do not let them overwhelm you. During my Advanced Level studies, I used to attend class only two or three days a week while scrambling to raise the money to cover my outstanding fees. What felt overwhelming then is now history. Above all, embrace discipline. Every seed sown with discipline will eventually bear fruit.
I extend my deepest thanks to AIA Founder Aunt Sarah Nininger, the staff, and the donors who have supported my education from secondary school through university. With my father unable to pay school fees and my mother managing a small market stall, earning a degree was out of reach. AIA gave me a safe space to grow into a future civil engineer and literally changed the trajectory of my life.
William’s Mother, Namuyiga Hariet
In our home, I carry the burden of being both father and mother, earning what little I can from a small market stall where I sell tomatoes and onions. Every shilling I make goes directly toward supporting my children’s education because I want them to reach their fullest potential. Action in Africa’s support has meant everything to our family’s journey.
When AIA helped my son go to university, it felt like a dream. All my hopes had been pinned on vocational training, but even the money to support that path was scarce. Now, my son is at university on a full scholarship. Who are we to receive such grace? On top of that, my daughter, Nakidde Winfred, was awarded a secondary scholarship at Riverside High School Mbazzi and is now in Senior Three. I used to wake up in the quiet hours of 3:00 a.m. to pray over my children, lifting up their futures and asking God to clear a path for them to prosper. And indeed, God made a way.
I wish Action in Africa could open my heart and see how full of happiness it is. But its impact doesn’t stop with my children; I have personally benefited, too. I am a student in the Adult English class at the Center. Before joining, I couldn’t even write my own name. Now, no one can speak behind my back or insult me in English without my understanding! Thank you so much, Aunt Sarah, and thank you to everyone who supports you in transforming our community in Nakuwadde.
