Compassion Interview with Mentor Siraji

Ever wonder how in the world we keep track of 600 children, their families, and all of their needs?

Due to the ever growing size of our sponsorship program, Amazima could simply not function without all of the hard work of our mentors.  Each mentor is assigned a group of children to oversee.  This includes carrying out family home visits, medical appointments, attending to school issues, and counseling the children and families with any problem they may have.  All of our mentors are caring, compassionate, and wise individuals who have quickly won the affection of not only the children, but of the entire staff of Amazima!

It is our privilege to be able to introduce to you some of our phenomenal staff. None of our work here is possible without their hard work and dedication.We can't wait to introduce the rest of the mentors as well but for now meet Siraji, whose joy is always written across his face and continues to inspire the rest of us.

Siraji comes from the district of Kamuli, Uganda.  He is 27 years old and is the fifth child of a family of 13 children.   His family has very little education and in fact, he is the first one to obtain a degree.  He earned a BA in Social work and Administration as well as a Certificate in Christian Foundations from Kampala International University.  Currently he is paying for eight of his siblings to go to school.

Siraji has worked with Innovation for Poverty Action as well as Compassion International.   Siraji is always smiling, friendly, and incredibly charismatic.  It is impossible to walk away from a conversation with Siraji without a smile on your face as his laughter truly is contagious! He enjoys preaching the Gospel as well as taking part in research and public speaking.

It was such a joy to interview Siraji. You are going to think these answers are edited, but they are straight from his heart. We are so blessed by his wisdom and heart for Jesus!

You deal with difficult situations everyday.  
How do you maintain a sense of compassion throughout all of it? 

First of all, what keeps me going is being a Christian.  If I were not a Christian, I would help, but not as much as I do now.  Now, I can work late into the night, waking up from sleep, going to children who are in need because I am a Christian. I feel like I am truly transformed.

Secondly, I am used to experiences of suffering.  I have grown up seeing them.   I was brought up in a very humble family. To give you an example, I put on my first shoe when I was 14 years old.   I grew up sleeping on banana leaves.  Our family had many famines. When I see people going through what I went through, I feel the need to help because I am not in that position anymore.  I will not say that I am better than them, but I at least do have a job.  And I have reason to help them get out of it because I can relate to it.  When I get an opportunity to help, like with Amazima, I maximize the opportunity.  I want to exhaust myself with helping others so that a life is improved.

Lastly, someone helped me at one time.  My family could not afford my school fees and somebody contributed and made it possible for me to go to school.  Because of this I am indebted to help. Someone lent to me, and I have to give back.  I want to clarify that I give back freely. I don’t feel burdened. 

Who do you feel instilled in you your desire to help people?

When I worked at Canaan Children’s Home, my desire to help people was instilled in me by a man named Pastor Isaac.  Then also, my uncle gave me school fees with an open heart.  He was so compassionate.  He was helping more people than just me even.   Even from my early stages up until now that I am…can I say successful?  I don’t mean that in a prideful way, but I have my degree, which in this country is not easy.  But even up until now he has helped me.  Also, Katie and the Amazima staff has been incredibly inspirational to me in being compassionate towards others.

Have you ever found it easy to slip into apathy towards the suffering you see?

Actually, the busier I get the more I love it. I can never get tired.  The more the number of challenges comes in, the more opportunities I get to help.  As long as I have the ability to help, I don’t want to limit myself.   I do everything freely.  It really does give me joy.   This is why I became a social worker. 

You walk long distances every day to meet families, sit in clinics for hours at a time, ride crowded buses for entire mornings, and still seem to maintain a positive attitude.  Why do you do what you do and how do you remain so positive?

I need to remember that many times if I am not the one to do it, nobody will.  It is my responsibility to provide and to help these children.  Like the father to a family.  Whether I do it or not, it is my responsibility.  If you view ministry as a job, you will always have limitations.  But if you view it as your personal responsibility, you never have a limit.  My work is God-ordained.   God has given me this opportunity to serve with Amazima.  My heart and mind are fully convinced that I am here for a divine appointment and that is why I must work tirelessly.  The heaven has a task that I should fulfill here.  Even on a day I am feeling low, this will keep me positive.  Yesterday I was in the hospital for very long.  According to Amazima policy, I should have today off.  But I can’t do that when people need help.  I am not ultimately held accountable to Amazima policy.  I work in accordance to what God wants me to do.

What would your advice be to those of us who want to act compassionately to those around us?

 The first key thing that people need us to do is to give them time.   As long as we give them time, that is the first step of acting in compassion. 

Secondly, we don’t see compassion only in terms with money.  It is the way we speak and talk to people.  We can either encourage them our break them down.  It is important to let them know that they are loved.  This isn’t to say that we don’t discipline children here.  We should not spoil children in the name of compassion.  We need to discipline with compassion.

Thirdly, follow up.  If you have done something for someone, as if I have bought books for someone, it is important to check if the books are helping, if he is using them, etc.  

Most importantly, give what you can whenever you can.  If there is a need that you can meet, then please, give.  This is such an important part of compassion.