Journey to University: Joan
Joan’s journey with Action in Africa began in 2009 at St. Johnson Primary School. She said that the very first group from the USA, led by Aunt Sarah, our Founder and Executive Director, visited their school, and she was among those who welcomed the team with entertainment and hospitality through dancing, singing, games, and sports. “I am happy to say that I was among the lucky students who participated in welcoming the USA team. I never dreamed to travel with Action in Africa till this far,” she said.
The dance classes in the After School Program attracted Joan, and she never wanted to miss a class. The porridge served daily meant a lot to her growth. Through our Secondary Scholarship Program, Joan was among the fortunate students selected in 2016 to study at Central College.
She commended the Internship Program for nurturing her into a professional equipped with communication, ICT, interpersonal, and time management skills. Joan will never forget the day she was selected for the University Scholarship Program. “It was a dream coming true. I always wanted to further my studies up to university and there is no way it would have been possible without the support of AIA because my father was a driver before his death in 2022, and my mother was a farmer,” she said. “I still dream about that day I got notified about university program selection.”
Joan went to Makerere University to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. “I am very grateful for AIA’s support from Primary Five until university graduation. I have never gone through any struggles or worrying where school fees will be coming from,” she said. “I have attended school from primary to university without being sent back home due to late payments or unpaid fees, but the glory goes to Action in Africa.”
Currently, Joan works as an Accounts Payable Manager at Impala Living Ventures, where she leads the accounts payable team. Her responsibilities include overseeing receipts, verifying and entering invoices, resolving discrepancies between invoices and purchase orders, ensuring payments are made on time to avoid late fees, and maintaining compliance with company policies and accounting standards. She also maintains strong communication with suppliers and vendors and works closely with finance teams to ensure accurate month-end and year-end closings.
In five years, she aspires to have completed a CPA course, started a financial consultancy company, made at least two investments, and gotten married.
“With heartfelt gratitude, I would like to thank the entire AIA team. Aunt Sarah, you are making dreams come true! To the donors, you are changing lives and giving hope to the hopeless! Today I am what I am because of AIA! I cannot be more grateful! Thank you.”
