My grandfather, abaa dwong Otim Raymond, is a very interesting man. He decided to add to his name: ”Gi Nono Pe Nayi”, meaning: “don’t get so used to free things.” He even marked most of his assets like chairs, benches and others, with his new name, “Gi Nono Pe Nayi Otim Raymond.”

He did so, because his strong and able-bodied friends and even his own children who are boys used to always run to him to seek for help. This is even after him marrying for them wives and also giving them plots of land.

In 2020, after my graduation, I went to visit him and he told me:

“My grandson greatness is earned by working hard. that’s why at my old age, 95 years, l still do my garden work.”

Gi Nono Pe Nayi Otim Raymond

Abaa dwong Otim Raymond (centre)

In my village Atwar Ayabi Sub-County in Kwania District, my grandfather is recognized as one of the ‘big men’. This is because he has many hectares of land and cattle.

In my clan, currently, they also consider a man who has at least managed to educate his children in school to the Ordinary Level of secondary education or who has given them some skills on welding, for example, as a ‘big man’.

Someone who has roles and responsibilities in the community, the church, and who has a stable family may also be considered a ‘big man’.

This story was shared by Jimmy Ezra Okello, a beneficiary of our CPAR Uganda programme, “Mentoring Young Adults into Innovators against Poverty.” He did so as part of an innovator’s conversation ignited by the blog post: “To be a ‘Big Man’ in Teso is earned not inherited” on the “The Humanist View” blog of our Managing Director, Norah Owaraga’s bloggers website.

Okello is working hard to live by and to honour his grandfather’s advice. Please help CPAR Uganda to support Okello to establish a welding workshop through which, in turn, he will give welding apprenticeships to his fellow youth in Lango, his home.

As of today, 16th June 2023, we have raised US$ 76 of the US$ 3,000 that he needs to buy welding machines, equipment and startup materials. Please consider making a donation, even as little as US$ 10 (about Ug. Shs. 40,000). Every little bit counts!

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