Moonlight Stars
A project by RHU

I was born in Kampala, not far from where I live now. I lived with my parents and 6 brothers and sisters, but I lost my mom to disease when I was 7 years old.  My father remarried and his new wife did not agree to pay for my studies, but my older sister invested in me and paid for me to go to school until I was 15. Once I was out of school, though, things changed for me. I met a 22-year-old man and we became a couple. At 16 I became pregnant.

 

I moved into my boyfriend’s house, which was ok at first, but he later became verbally and emotionally abusive, so I took my child and left. I moved into my sister’s house and found work in a small restaurant. The money I earned was not enough to live on and, in time, I became a moonlight star. At first it was hard. I wasn’t used to this kind of life. Everyone around was drinking heavily and smoking marijuana all the time, but I’m used to it now. I have since had another child who is now 2 years old.

 

I got to know RHU through one of their outreach programs. One of their volunteers told us we could come to the clinic and get free condoms, so I did. They comforted us, they counseled us, they treated us when we were sick, they became important to us. Eventually they suggested we work alongside them and they trained us as peer educators. It isn’t easy to find an NGO that works with moonlight stars, but RHU doesn’t discriminate against us. RHU changed our lives. They allow us to be safe because we don’t have to find money for condoms. In the past, when moonlight stars got STDs they would think that someone bewitched them, and they wouldn’t speak of it. Today they get treatment.

 

My dream is that I get a good job, which is not easy for an uneducated woman. One day I would love to go back to school and complete my education. Another dream I have is to see my children happy. I want to see them well educated so they don’t end up where I am now.