The Price of Stones
If you鈥檙e reading this review, $4 lattes or $15 lunches are probably not shock-inducing numbers. Now think about this: 鈥�Two dollars feeds a child for a week.... Fifteen pays for books for a trimester. We can do so much with so little.鈥� With pure gratitude as he begins a meal with students from his Nyaka AIDS Orphans School to celebrate Uganda鈥檚 Independence Day, Twesigye Jackson Kaguri states a simple fact. 鈥淥ne of these giggling children might even become the future president of Uganda,鈥� he marvels.
Kaguri dreams big. And not without merit. Presented simply and humbly, Kaguri鈥檚 story 鈥� and that of the giggling children 鈥� debuts this month in his unforgettable memoir, The Price of Stones: Building a School for My Village.
Born and raised in rural Nyakagyezi in southwest Uganda, Kaguri learned the value of education early from his older brother Frank, whose kindness and generosity he idolized. In spite of their father鈥檚 disdain, Kaguri excelled at school, eventually joining Columbia University鈥檚 Human Rights Advocacy visiting scholars program.
Even as he discovers that 鈥渕any in New York considered Africa a country, not a continent ... [that] all Africans were the same鈥� he also marvels at 鈥渢he freedom of expression [he] found in America.鈥� He pointedly notes his 鈥渁maze[ment] that primary through high school education was free.鈥�
By the time Kaguri journeys home after his American adventure, his beloved brother was dying of AIDS. His oldest sister, then her baby son, rapidly followed. Kaguri returned to the US 鈥� and the love of his life; he married Beronda, whom he had met while living in New York, and the couple eventually settled in Michigan.
By 1991, 15 percent of Ugandans were thought to be infected with HIV/AIDS and almost 100,000 Ugandans were dying from the disease every year. All around, families were disintegrating: in a population of 31 million, over 2.2 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
This lost generation of orphans becomes the focus of Kaguri鈥檚 life work. On his first trip home as a married man in April 2001, Kaguri cannot turn orphans away: 鈥淏ecause of the stigma of AIDS, many children are abandoned.... [F]amilies take the parents鈥� property and use the orphans as household servants or hire them out as prostitutes.鈥� Kaguri realizes only education can help these children escape destitution and servitude. Beronda recognizes the immediacy of the situation: 鈥� 鈥楾hese children don鈥檛 have time,鈥� she said. 鈥楾hey need a school now.鈥欌赌�
The heartwarming journey from dream to reality is filled with tremendous challenges, utter faith, and Social Security check donations: 鈥淭his is the true price of stones.鈥� On Jan. 2, 2003, Nyaka AIDS Orphans School officially opened with 60 students 鈥� all orphans 鈥� receiving free education, including free books, uniforms, health care, and food. A birthday cake 鈥� not a tradition in Uganda 鈥� was presented to the students 鈥渢o symbolize their passage from orphans to students.鈥� Each wore purple-and-white uniforms, 鈥渂ecause [purple] symbolizes happiness.鈥� The school motto proclaims, 鈥溾�橣or Our Children鈥檚 Sake.鈥欌赌�
Nyaka has not stopped growing since. From clean water tanks first for the school, then an installation for the village, to the school鈥檚 Anti-AIDS Choir which travels to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, Kaguri raises funds throughout the US and lands back home to nurture the staff and students and empower their growth and success.
The children鈥檚 stories are nothing short of miraculous. Even the most heart-wrenching story of bright, inquisitive Scovia who succumbs to AIDS, asking to be buried in her uniform, 鈥渟o she will not worry about dressing up when Jesus calls,鈥� is testimony to Nyaka鈥檚 committed dedication to each of its students.
As Nyaka is a primary school, Kaguri identifies the most promising students, and pledges to provide for their educational future. 鈥溾�榊ou mean there is electricity at the school?鈥欌�� Fiona asks in delighted wonder when she is told she will be able to read at night. Izidol declares he will be a medical doctor one day and build hospitals: 鈥溾�橬o one will have to die then,鈥� he intones.
So remember what half that latte can buy for a Nyaka student? Read 鈥淭he Price of Stones鈥� and you will be inspired to action 鈥� whether you pledge your time, pull out your wallet, or at the very least buy the book for your local library. The choice is yours. 鈥淚 have done what I can, Frank,鈥� Kaguri tells his late brother. 鈥淎nd there is more that I will do,鈥� he promises.
Terry Hong is media arts consultant at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program. She writes a Smithsonian book blog at http://bookdragon.si.edu/.
