Denis Waswa was born in Uganda in the years following the most intense phase of the armed conflict that affected the country between March 1986 and February 1994. His childhood was marked by severe poverty, in a context where access to education, healthcare, and adequate nutrition represented a daily challenge.
His path takes a new direction when he joins AVSI’s child sponsorship programme. Supporting him is Daniela, a woman from San Marino who chooses to accompany him throughout his growing years.
Thanks to that support, opportunities are created for him to study, grow, and choose his own path. Denis attends school and continues his studies until completing his university education.
The first meeting between the two takes place in Kampala, when Denis is 16 years old. Since then, their bond has never been interrupted.
“Daniela chose to take care of me. She allowed me to go to school and I will always be grateful to her,” Denis says. “I attended primary school, lower secondary school, and high school. Then I studied telecommunications at university in Uganda.”
Today Denis lives in Arizona, United States, and works as a technician for Microsoft. He has a family, a wife and four children.
Looking back on his story, what stands out is not the professional achievement itself, but the journey he has taken: from a child whose opportunities were at risk of being limited, to a man who has been able to develop his talents and build his own future.
Denis recently returned to San Marino to meet Daniela. His words speak of a bond that, over time, has accompanied a path of growth and offers a perspective on a story that continues.