Joseph Matovu, orphaned due to AIDS, gains admission to Waseda University
--Nine students from abroad will now study at Japanese universities with Ashinaga support--

Ugandan student Joseph Matovu, 23 = pictured at left =, orphaned after his parents died in 1998 of AIDS, received official notice on December 11, 2009, of his acceptance to the Waseda University School of International Liberal Studies. Upon his arrival to begin classes in April 2010, he will be one of a total of nine students from abroad--representing Uganda, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka--studying at Japanese universities with Ashinaga support, and living in friendly rivalry with their Japanese counterparts at Ashinaga ¡ÈKokoro-juku¡É residential facilities for university students in Tokyo and Kobe.

After losing his parents in 1998, Matovu subsequently managed to make his way with support from various relatives. He and his seven brothers and sisters were split up; Matovu currently lives with his younger brothers, aged 15 and 13, in the house left by his parents. For a two-year period after his parents¡Ç deaths, and for two years after graduating from high school, Matovu was barely able to survive, let alone study. But he was fortunate discover Ashinaga Uganda and begin participating in its programs, after which he was able to continue with his studies and eventually obtain his ¡Èticket¡É to higher education.

10 a.m. Friday, December 11. A projector at Kokoro-juku was hooked up to the Internet, displaying the list of ID numbers of successful applicants. Upon discovering his number, Matovu let out a shriek and jumped for joy along with the Kokoro-juku students watching with him. His eyes glistening with huge tears, Matovu bowed over and over in gratitude. ¡ÈThank you very much! It is thanks to you I was successful. I promise to do my best at university! In Uganda, there are many orphans who are studying their hearts out, hoping for a chance to take a university entrance exam,¡Éhe said.

There are currently 28 orphaned Japanese Ashinaga students doing ¡Èyear abroad¡É programs overseas; they are due to return from their respective countries in March 2010. In the context of this increasingly international environment, Ashinaga will continue its efforts to support the 200 million orphans said to exist in the world.
¢¨Photos =
Top right; Julius Ssegguja, left, and Irene Nabanoba rejoice in October 2009 after recieving notice of their acceptance to Kwansei Gakuin University
Bottom right; Chandima Lakmali, left, and Mikial Maulita, after attending their entrance ceremony at Waseda University in September 2009