A group of students and I recently attended a graduation ceremony in Kampala for online gig workers. Our journey began April 24th, 2025 on a Thursday morning as we prepared to travel from Nakivale to Kampala. There were 27 of us, including two trainers, and the founder of Her Dreams Count, Anny Sybile. Since most of us were in Nakivale, a coaster was arranged to take us to Kampala, with plans to meet at the Taxi Park at 8:00 AM and depart at 9:00 AM. However, due to delays, we ended up traveling by taxi from Nakivale to Mbarara, where the coaster would meet us. Henry, another participant from Mbarara, joined us at the Taxi Park in Mbarara. After a call to confirm everyone’s presence, we noticed Gedeon wouldn’t be joining us. We boarded four taxis and headed to Mbarara’s Taxi Park, where we would meet the coaster, with a stop earlier made to pick Anny Sybile in Kabingo. As we traveled, everyone was quiet, focused on their phones. Upon reaching Mbarara, our taxi broke down, and we walked to the Taxi Park to meet the others. When we reached the taxi park around 1 PM, we felt hungry and informed Jean Munguzo, who then called Lorna, a team member at Start Hub. After a few minutes, we were each given 10,000 shillings for lunch, and we went to buy something to eat. With our hunger satisfied, we waited for the coaster, which arrived at 1:45 PM, and departed Mbarara at 2:00 PM. During the journey, some participants dozed off, and we stopped in Masaka for another break of 10 minutes. As we approached Kampala, we encountered traffic jams, but finally reached Buziga hostels around 10 PM, thanks to Google Maps. As we finally reached Buziga hostels around 10 PM, thanks to the help of Google Maps, we were relieved to have arrived after a long journey. None of us knew the exact location of the hostels, but Sybile used Google Maps to guide us. Upon entering the hostels, we were allocated rooms, with some participants sharing rooms. I slept in one room with my friend Milton. After we were all given rooms, we were called for dinner, which was a welcome relief after a busy day of travel. We went for dinner and then retired to our rooms to rest. The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my alarm ringing at 6:30 AM. After saying my prayers, I went to bathe and prepare for the day. We all gathered for breakfast, and after eating, we packed our bags. At around 9 AM, the car was ready to take us to Speke Resort Munyonyo for the graduation ceremony. As we arrived at Speke Resort Munyonyo, I was impressed by the beautiful surroundings. The green grass was neatly cut, and colorful flowers bloomed everywhere. The pathways were clean and easy to follow, making it simple to move around the compound. The atmosphere was cool and refreshing, with a gentle breeze that carried the sweet scent of flowers. I saw many flagpoles holding different flags, which added to the festive atmosphere. As I looked around, I noticed a beautiful swimming pool, where some people were swimming and having fun. We passed through a metal detector, where we had to put out our phones. We registered, entered the beautifully designed hall where we met fellow participants from Kampala and mingled before the ceremony began. I sat near an Eritrean woman called Samri. The ceremony included a Kahoot game, and despite some technical issues, it was a wonderful experience. After the Kahoot game, the Master of Ceremonies delivered opening remarks, setting the tone for the celebration. We then watched testimony videos showcasing the impact of the online gig work training on our community. These stories highlighted the positive changes and opportunities that had arisen from the program. Following the videos, we had a panel discussion where esteemed guests, including government representatives and development partners, discussed unlocking online gig work opportunities for the refugee, youth, and host communities. This discussion provided valuable insights into the potential of online gig work to empower these groups. The ceremony reached its highlight when participants who had excelled in the program were awarded laptops. These individuals had demonstrated exceptional dedication and skills, completing impressive projects and earning money through online gig work. It was a great honor to see participants from Nakivale receiving laptops, showcasing their excellence in the program. Although I wasn’t among the recipients, I was proud to see my peers achieve this milestone. After the awards, we gathered for a group photo with representatives from ILO, StratHub, and all the participants. This memorable moment captured the spirit of our collective achievement. Following the photo, we received our certificates, marking the official completion of the program. To celebrate our achievement, we cut a cake and enjoyed a delicious treat. It was a sweet way to cap off an exciting day. With certificates in hand, we proceeded to enjoy a well-deserved lunch. I was surprised to see a lot of food. It was my first time seeing such a variety of dishes. I enjoyed a variety of delicious food like chapati rolls, fish, fried chicken, and many others. The food was tasty and satisfying. We also had snacks, including cakes, which were delicious. Everything was great, and I was happy to try new flavors. After lunch, we helped ourselves to some fresh fruits. Once we’d finished eating, we gathered near the bus, which was parked nearby. Not everyone was returning to Nakivale, as some participants had other plans in Kampala. Those of us heading back to Nakivale boarded the bus, and we set off on our journey home. As we departed for Nakivale, the clock read 3:30 PM. The journey back was quiet, with most of us dozing off in the car. When we reached Kabingo, Anny Sybile got off, heading home. We continued on our way until we reached the police checkpoint, where
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Interview with Charles
Thank you for sharing this powerful story with us. Could you tell us about what inspired you to write it? My story is called “Suffering.” My father’s name is Shika Demzungu and my mother’s name is Jeanne Kiza. I chose to tell this story so that I can teach people, through my life history, that in this world many fathers and even mothers leave their families in different situations. They should take care of their families. I also want to show how a person can do something to change their lives even if they think they don’t have the means. What messages do you hope your readers will take away from your story? The message I want my readers to take is that when you leave your family alone without care they will suffer. I want people to know they shouldn’t give up because in life it’s either up or down and God is always there no matter the situation or circumstances. What, from your perspective, is the point of storytelling? Why do we tell stories, what do they do for us, and what purpose do they serve? Stories are shared to teach us and guide us toward the right path. I used my story to narrate the difficult circumstances I’ve encountered and to inspire the people around me with how I’ve navigated those situations. Did your story change over the course of your participation in the storytelling workshops? How? I was advised to edit some points in my story but the core of my story never changed. The process of how my story evolved and the guidance I received was inspiring and I’m happy with the final result. My story evolved through the editorial process and the clarification of various points in the narrative. How does your story offer an alternative path, point of view, or way forward? How does it speak to the possibility of an otherwise? My story offers an alternative path because it guides people towards taking their own responsibility whatever their situation. In my culture they always say that if you forget yourself you’ll stink and that’s the advice I would like my readers to learn.
Georgia Marshall, peer reviewer
Georgia Marshall is a sophomore in high school. She lives in Massachusetts and has always loved reading and writing. From a young age, she used the written word as an outlet for her emotions, and the most vital way to express herself. She has had multiple poetry, essay, and short story publications in literary journals including Half and One and Stone Soup. She is also an assistant editor for her school newspaper and interns for the local newspaper in her town, as well as Girls’ Life Magazine. When she’s not in school or writing, she sings in an all-female acapella group and a treble choir. Georgia believes that words and storytelling have the power to transform lives and connect people across countries, generations, and entire worlds. Acting as a peer reviewer for the Sociality of the Story Refugee program has been an incredible experience for Georgia, instilling in her a stronger sense of the power of storytelling and a deepened passion for writing. Being able to connect with so many young people in entirely different situations and life circumstances through their writing was a powerful reminder of the mysterious power words have over people. Working with Charles Shika Safina on his incredible and inspiring story was Georgia’s favorite part of the experience. She is honored to have played even a small part in his storytelling journey.
