When I think of Viola, the first thing that comes to mind is her charming smile and alert gaze. Viola had been a member of the A Chance for Children Family since 2008 - from the very beginning of our organisation. She came into the sponsorship program as a student at St. Mary's School and was one of those "you don't forget". Already in Primary 6 class she impressed with her good English. She won a goat for her team in the first reading competition we organized in 2009 because she was the best at spelling, reading aloud and playing the dictionary game. With our first volunteers, she sang a lot, learned a few words of German. She was never shy. On the contrary, she was curious and interested and always sought contact with the "muzungus"; the white people.

After graduating from Secondary School, she actually wanted to work at the Christoph-Bettermann-School for one year. This is an offer we make to all graduates to enable them to get vocational training later on. But it was very important to her family that she take her A-level right away. Somehow they managed to raise the funds to send Viola straight on to school. A nice development, which we welcomed very much. She finally made it to university and was supported by her family and friends, the organisation provided scholastic material and she worked whenever possible to earn extra money. Many in our organization were friends with Viola and so we were able to follow her journey closely. She also came to visit the office every now and then and I was always very happy when our paths crossed. There was always time for a chat, a brief update on her life. She has grown from the bright girl we all took to our hearts to a confident, charming and smart young woman.

After graduating from Makerere university, Viola came back to the organization as an employee in 2020. At first, she worked in the office as a support to our Coordinator, Betty. When the management of the Christoph-Bettermann-School 1 had to be filled, Viola took over reliably and conscientiously despite her young age. Thomas Knapp, responsible for work with the disabled in the organisation, knew Viola well since his time as a volunteer in 2011. He worked closely with her and had complete trust in her. Once we noticed that she is one of the fastest Ugandans we know - in perception, in her language and also in her movements.

Last year we created a new "medical department". This is the department where all surgeries and follow-up examinations for children with disabilities are coordinated, where medicines for all schools are ordered and therapy material is purchased. The leadership requires trustworthy financial management, a confident demeanor for networking with hospitals and international medical organizations, and strong communication skills to be able to talk to doctors, therapists, but also the families of the children. There was no one else besides Viola to whom we would have wanted to offer this position. She did an excellent job. We were on our way to signing "memorandi of understanding" with numerous hospitals that would make it even easier to work together. She had so many ideas for the future, was always on top of the latest developments, always wanted to make a difference. The day before she died, she moderated a program item at the staff retreat. Quite spontaneously and very professionally and empathetically.

On July 21, Viola Nabagala died in a tragic traffic accident at the age of 26. Our organization has lost a wonderful employee and hope for the future. We all, especially our team in Uganda, miss a friend, soul mate and confidant. Someone in Uganda said "Also God needs good people. He chose among the best". There is nothing I can add to that.

(Gabi Ziller)

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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