Harvest Series

From civil war to civil duty

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Episode notes

This episode is an interview with Dennis Okwera. He is a model and an activist. He is sharing his story today, and we’ll talk about his life in Uganda, where he grew up during a civil war, where children were abducted to become child soldiers. His grandmother was in charge of him, as his parents separated when he was young. He will tell how he escaped to London, how he was scouted to become a model, and will explain how the first thing he did when he started to earn money was to send it to his distressed community back in Lumule, where he is helping the kids to go to school. His story was one of the favourites of the 7th season of Harvest. I hope you’ll like it too.

if you want to help Dennis : https://gofund.me/f2d1ff02

Harvest is an event produced by Athena Advisers and Capital Partners

[2:20] What was Dennis' life during the civil war, when the LRA was abducting children in the villages to make them child soldiers?

[6:50] That day in Lumule when the rebels rang the bell to make the children feel safe and run to school.

[10:09] Dennis and his brother joined their dad (and their grandmother) in London. First they couldn't go to school as their dad was working illegally, but they finally used the dad's girlfriend's address to join a school.

[12:00] People working for a model agency want to hire Dennis, but his dad refuses. But years later, more agents connected Dennis for modelling.

[14:30] The beginning of a new life, when Dennis is modelling and sending money to his aunt in Uganda. How does Dennis look at fashion people?

[18:00] The first trip to Lumule. The "This is home" moment, seeing his aunt again, and his mum he hadn't seen since he was a small child, as Dennis' parents separated very early and Dennis was raised by his grandmother.

[20:16] Dennis starts helping the other children with the school, starting with the girls. He ships sanitories to Uganda so the girls don't miss school one week a month. Then he realises that the children can't focus or attend in the afternoon because they don't have lunch and are hungry.

[24:00] How does Dennis raise money? And what are the next steps?

[26:00] Harvest of the Day : If something gives hope to Dennis, what is it?

Next week, we will release Dennis Okwera's interview in Kaplankaya. He is a model, scouted in the streets of London. He grew up during the civil war in Uganda. He will tell how he escaped Uganda, and the first thing he did when he started earning money, was to send it to his village. Don't miss the episode!

You can follow us on Instagram : Harvestseries, and watch our filmed podcast or speakers on Youtube : Harvest Series.

Sound editing by Alice Krief

Music by Chambord

Technicians in Kaplankaya : Joel Moriasi and team

Communication: Alix Paver

Artwork : Pedro Vidigal & Davide d'Antonio

Harvest Series is produced in partnership with Athena Advisers and Capital Partners

The founders of Harvest Series are Burak Öymen and Roman Carel.