The Street Boy whose words touched our hearts

This is Ashiraf.
In March 2008 when Mary and I first visited Uganda and met the street children of Kasese, it was Ashiraf who stepped forward, welcomed us, and read a statement. He explained why these children were on the streets - orphans, or abused children who had run away, or children of sex workers who could not look after them.
Ashiraf described their wretched lifestyle - sleeping in the trees, scrabbling in the rubbish tips for food.
"If someone give a small job he or she becomes our Mother or Father that day," he said.
I still have his statement in front of me as I write.
His words touched our hearts; it was that statement which moved us, when we got home, to start the fund-raising, which has resulted - four years later - in over £40,000 being sent out to Kasese, so that the Hostel is now almost finished.
So it was that boy - perhaps 15 years old at the time - whose words triggered this whole project!
I recently asked Enos his name, and he emailed me not only the name, Ashiraf, but this recent picture of him.
He now earns his living as a Boda-Boda man - a bicycle taxi (hence the cushion on the carrier).
We hope to meet him on the 24th at the Hostel Opening, and shake his hand.
chriscjenkin@aol.com