Journey to University: Katrina
Katrina Grace Odongo’s journey with Action in Africa sparked off in 2019. Her mother used to facilitate primary kids at AIA during holiday programs, and Katrina herself was at our former PPP school, All Saints Primary School. They used to engage in sessions of spelling bee, art, quiz, and creative writing.
Her mother used to push her to attend the programs because she knew the benefits her daughter would reap. In Senior Two, she was awarded a Secondary Scholarship at Central College School, the partner school since 2016. She narrated, “We were at home, and my mother delivered good news that Action in Africa had secured a space for me. Maybe it was due to my mother’s strong relationship with AIA since she was a facilitator; this also expanded my chances of getting support. But I never dreamed of reaching this far with AIA.”
Katrina said her father, Odong Micheal, and mother, Angel, are both professional teachers, but it did not save them from the struggle of paying their children’s school fees. This pushed her to be serious with AIA’s programs because she knew that she needed to uphold a high standard to maintain her scholarship.
Upon receiving her internship news, everyone at Katrina’s home was overwhelmingly happy and expressed joy because they knew what the internship program at AIA means. “I knew I was to sit in the office like former interns used to, receive healthy meals with a balanced diet, get my own laptop, and join university with AIA’s support, and all of that was achieved.”
Katrina aspires to pursue a bachelor’s degree through Kampala International University in August of 2025. Ever since she joined the internship, she has gained self-esteem and confidence, revealing that before, she was shy and standing before the public was a hard task to accomplish. She has learned to be social with people. Her ICT skills have also been enhanced. Though she had basic knowledge, she has now learned to use Google Suite and Microsoft applications, create digital presentations, and has had a chance to practice drafting meeting minutes. She added that time management has been one of the greatest aspects of the internship, along with personal discovery, stress management, and uncovering personal traits.
Lastly, she thanked Action in Africa for the opportunity of internship: “I would now be in a salon practicing hairdressing, which I had even started during my break. But now, I am to become an IT expert.”
