One of the hardest parts to communicate from such a great distance is how these students are just as real as your own children. Yes, there are some cultural differences but they are every bit as loving, playful, hardworking, sometimes mischievous and fun to be around as kids in the USA. In the same way we value education in America, we are working hard to instill value in education in Uganda. Many young people now can understand that a good education is key to having a better life, even if their parents don't yet see it. Where our schools are located is very rural, and most are subsistence farmers who have no reference point for why their students need to be educated. Sponsorship means education, and education means more opportunities for them to provide for and make a better life for themselves.