Born in Budaka District in Eastern Uganda, Nachipa was the fourth in a family of six children: three girls and three boys.

She came from a humble background, where food, school fees, clothes, medication and other necessities were hard to get. Her parents were poor and couldn’t provide what the children needed. Nachipa always prayed to God to get her out of that life.

Every Monday, the teachers and administrators would chase her out of school because of delinquent school fees. She would get two weeks into the term, only to be forced out. For the remaining weeks, all she could do was copy notes from her friends.

Nachipa endured taunts from other children who called her “fees defaulter,” but she never gave up. Some teachers used to tell her to go and get married since her parents couldn’t pay her fees, but she promised herself that she was going to study and finish her education. And she did.

She managed to make it through Jami Primary School in Budaka District, earned her O-Level at Eden High School Gayaza in Wakiso District, her A-Level at Mbale Progressive Senior Secondary School in Mbale District, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Information and Technology at Kampala International University. To put this in perspective, as of 2012, fewer than 2% of Ugandans over the age of 25 had a bachelor’s degree.

As Treasurer of Serve A Smile Foundation, Nachipa is responsible for budgets, accounting and financial statements, securing funding, and ensuring the charity has an appropriate investment policy.

“This challenge that I went through at a young age compels me to work hard and help the street kids who have lost hope in their lives and think they will never go to school and become important and powerful people. I always share with them my story, so that they can be hopeful. I believe that with our help through Serve A Smile Foundation they will be able to study and prosper in life.”

– Nachipa Diana Flavia