A day in the life of an AIDS orphan

Scovia, 15 years old from the Torroro District in Uganda

6.00am

Typical compound in Scovia's village

My typical day starts early. I wake up and sweep the compound. In our compound there are three huts that my uncle built. I sleep in one of the huts and my two brothers sleep in the others. My brothers are usually still sleeping when I get up.

My father died when I was one year old and my mother died in 2003, so it’s just us now. I wash the plates from last night’s supper and I clean the house. Then I bathe and prepare for school. I am lucky because my school is very close to my home. It only takes me about 15 minutes to walk to school.

7.45am

Kids at the local school

I arrive at school and attend lessons until lunchtime. I try to work hard in school because I want to become a doctor. On weekends I spend a lot of time studying. My friends all live far away, so I don’t get to play much. I go to the market Saturdays and church on Sundays. I also wash my clothes at the weekend.

1.00pm
The school serves porridge for lunch, which is my first food of the day. I usually eat lunch with my best friend, Florence. Florence lives very far away from my home, so I don’t get to see her outside of school.

I return to classes for the afternoon. Sometimes after class I have a Child Rights meeting. In the club we write songs and poems about the issues we face and then perform them with dance and music for the other children in the school.

5.00pm

Children collecting water

I walk home from school and go to the well to get water. There is no electricity or piped water at my house, so I have to fetch water every day and study at night by candlelight. On Saturdays my brothers go to the well.

Then I prepare supper for my brothers. Robert, the first born, is 19 and works as a carpenter. He finished primary school and went on a vocational course to learn his trade. Alfred is 18 years old and is a farmer. I do most of the housework.

When I’m cooking I usually listen to the radio. I normally cook beans, peanut sauce, dried fish and cassava. I eat my supper alone because my brothers are still working. I bathe and start reading my schoolbooks. When my brothers come back I serve them their food.

8.00pm
I go to bed.