My name is Onen Joel. I live in Kireka, often referred to as one of the slums in Kampala, and I come from a family of 9 members, including 4 boys, 3 girls, my father, and mother, who currently reside in the northern part of Uganda. At present, I work with Meeting Point International as a project coordinator.
Growing up, I was constantly faced with circumstances that made me wonder about life and its possibilities. With the poverty in my family, combined with the sickness and violence in the slums, I often questioned what was happening around me, but I never found answers. I was a quiet person, rarely spoke, and maintained a tough face to keep people at a distance.
However, in 2013, I joined Luigi Giussani High School, which offered a different approach to education. There, I encountered Severgnini Matteo and Auntie Rose, who saw beyond my mistakes, poor grades, and attitude. They looked at me differently. I was later invited to join the School of Community by Seve, where my older sister was already a member. Given my curiosity to understand the people I had met, I decided to go and see what it was. At first, I couldn’t understand much because they talked about life and read Fr. Giussani’s books which seemed complex to understand, drawing from their personal experiences. What attracted me the most was their perspective on life, their passion for it, and the songs, to be more specific LA STRADA. I realized that this was the place we are all called to be.
I also noticed how Severgnini Matteo and Auntie Rose treated everyone with a gaze I had never seen before. It struck me deeply—why would such people welcome and treat me so kindly, even though I had nothing to offer? I grew up in a society where one had to offer something to be accepted. In this environment, at school and among my friends, I found freedom, and my grades improved as I understood the value of education and life itself. Through the School of Community, we went on interesting trips and vacations, but the one that resonated most with me was when we went to Namugongo. The central question was: “Is life worth living?” This question has been at the heart of my life for years. When I was invited for this trip, I was excited because the topic resonated with my heart.
During these days I remember Auntie Rose said, “you have an infinite value and no one can take that way from you not even diseases nor poverty’’ This fact, revealed to me by Aunt Rose and others, changed the way I look at life. Regardless of the situation, life is given to me, and I am loved beyond human measure. This awareness has surprisingly made me more responsible for my life and the things I do. I am not defined by what I do or what people say, but by who He says I am. Because of this, life is worth living, as I am not alone; I belong to something that has freed me from my own definitions and those of the world.
Another important encounter came when I finished high school and joined the University Community School. There, I met Alberto, who guided the community. He welcomed me as if I had something precious, and we became friends. A few months later, I was offered a job as a Projects Officer at Meeting Point International, despite my lack of experience and my awareness of my weaknesses. Alberto still believed in me and gave me the job, which has always left me curious about what he sees in me that I don’t see. Working with him has helped me understand the meaning of work and the value of considering and treating every person with dignity.
Through my work, I’ve always been concerned with solving the community’s problems, trying to give them a better life through various projects. It has often been frustrating when things didn’t go as planned. But now, I understand that what truly matters is showing people that life is worth living, as Auntie Rose always reminds me. This understanding has made my work more fulfilling, and I find myself working with great joy.
I began to look at life differently, and an example is when my father suffered a stroke. He was paralyzed on one side of his body, and we thought he would die. A few years later, he recovered and began walking again. However, the stroke, along with diabetes and high blood pressure, affected his mental state. He became rude and commanded us to do only what he wanted, and we often fought, knowing his actions weren’t always out of good judgment. I asked myself, “Who is my father in front of me?” I posed the same question to Alberto, who responded, “Your father has a value, and he is a gift. Every day that passes, he is given to you and you to him by another.” I started to look at my father with this new gaze, and we began to get along, which was both surprising and interesting.
Through these experiences, I have realized that I need a belonging, a friend, a face that helps me understand myself and what I am truly made of. I would like to say that through this belonging, we find ourselves free and happy. This only happens through relationships.
Written by
Joel Onen.