Francis Lubuulwa
Francis Lubuulwa is well acquainted with loss. His childhood in AIDS-ravaged Uganda taught harsh lessons. But through the tragedies he’s endured, Francis has learned hope.
When he was 10 years old, Francis’ father died of AIDS. Two years later, the disease claimed the lives of his stepmother and stepsister. Not long after that, Francis' mother revealed that she, too, was HIV positive. Francis was sent to an orphanage in the Rakai District of southern Uganda, the epicenter of the AIDS pandemic.
"While in the orphanage, I got a whole different perspective on coping with loss," Francis said. "The orphanage was so comforting, as every child had a different story to tell. We gave each other hope and strength to go on."
At the orphanage Francis also discovered his talent for music and performance, and in 2002, when he was 15, he was selected to travel with a troupe to perform traditional Ugandan dancing, singing and drumming on an American fundraising tour.
In his last two years of high school, Francis was elected president of the student body. In 2007 he received his school’s Most Outstanding Leadership Award and the Most Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. In 2008 Francis volunteered to travel again to America with a dance company called "Spirit of Uganda" as a spokesperson and chaperon.
Francis won a college scholarship through Empower African Children, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization. The scholarship made it possible for Francis to come to Richland College.
At Richland, his academic performance and his engagement in extracurricular activities has won him a Sharon Conine Scholarship for International Students for Spring 2010. This scholarship is for international students with clear financial need and whose academic performance is excellent. Winners must also have shown a commitment to making the world a better place.
Francis shares his hope for the future as a leader in Richland’s Peace and Justice Club and African Student Union. He recently spoke as part of the Macy’s Passport Fashion Show activities to raises funds for AIDS work in Africa. Through the show, Francis shared with more than 4,000 young people in San Francisco and Los Angeles the story of his family and how the AIDS pandemic has affected them.
Francis plans to return to Uganda to establish his own human resources consulting company after finishing his studies at Richland. Armed with a 4.0 GPA, Francis is sure to be successful in his mission to spread hope in his homeland.