A child rescued from a life on the streets in Uganda is on course for a brighter future following support from a Huddersfield solicitor.

The 21-year-old, who can only be identified as Rose, was left to fend for herself on the streets of Kampala following the death of her mother.

Now Rose is studying for a degree in journalism and communications – with ambitions to work for news channel CNN – thanks to sponsorship by Anne Pendlebury, a partner at Eaton Smith Solicitors in Huddersfield, and the work of the London-based Amazing Children Uganda (ACU) charity.

Rose, who was born in the district of Mubende in Uganda, saw her father imprisoned when she was still young, leaving Rose and her older sister to tend for their sick mother. She learned later that her father had been set free from prison and had gone back to his homeland in Congo.

When her mother died from a long untreated illness a few months later, Rose and her sister went to Kamapala. However, Rose’s sister also deserted her, leaving the youngster to live on the streets until she found refuge with a church organisation.

“While at church, I enjoyed reading books so that I would learn to speak English,” said Rose. “Amongst the many vulnerable children at church, I was one of the lucky ones who got a sponsorship to attain education through Amazing Children Uganda.

“I started at boarding school and did my O-levels that very year, having spent many years without being in school. For my A-levels, I moved to another boarding school, where I got good grades and I joined Makerere University, one of the best universities in East Africa.”

Now Rose is in the third year of her degree course covering print journalism, photo journalism, public relations and advertising, adding: “My desire is to become one of the well-known news readers on CNN.”

During her holidays, Rose has taught English and literacy to fellow street children who have not yet been sponsored. She enjoys sport, music and dancing and also makes and sells jewellery.

Anne first became involved in Uganda through the long-standing twinning project between Huddersfield Law Society and the Uganda Law Society. The project includes visits from Ugandan lawyers to Huddersfield, annual training in Uganda for lawyers and the shipping of thousands of law books for the legal resource centres in Uganda.

She said: “While participating in training in Uganda I was struck by the great desire to get an education there. Although primary education is in theory free in Uganda, for many poor families it is very difficult as school uniform, books and equipment have to be paid for – and if not, then the children cannot attend school.

“There are also many children living on the streets without family support, for whom an education is no more than a dream.

“When I heard about Amazing Children Uganda, whose mission is to give street children a chance to transform their lives through education, I was delighted to be involved.

“Rose – who was then just 15 – had been identified as someone who would do well at school and would benefit from sponsorship. Rose is about the same age as my daughter and I liked the idea of hearing how she was getting on in a very different life to the privileged one my daughter enjoys.”

Said Anne: “Rose has made huge strides from the shy, young teenager I started to sponsor in 2009 to a self-confident, poised young woman in her third year of a four-year degree studying Journalism and Communications at Makarere University.

“We exchange letters and photographs two or three times a year. The trustees of ACU send us regular reports so we can see how our students are getting on.”

Said Anne: “Once my training duties had finished in Kampala, I met Rose as well as the project workers of ACU in Uganda. When I offered to be a sponsor it didn’t occur to me that I would actually meet my child – it was great to do so. She was thrilled that I had ‘come to check on her!’

Anne said: “It is humbling to realise that Rose only learned English aged 14, had very little primary education but, thanks to ACU and her own efforts, she is now doing well at university. All in all it has been, and continues to be a most rewarding experience and I look forward to continuing to hear about Rose’s achievements and watch her graduate and move into employment.”

To find our about sponsorship opportunities go to www.amazingchildrenuganda.org

To donate go to https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/amazingchildrenuganda