GAMAID
- July 24, 2025
My name is Preference Amarachi Uchenwaga, and I am a student of UNIUYO. When my hostel rent expired and I still had not been given a new space for the coming session, I genuinely felt like I was standing at a crossroads. At that same time, I had no money to pay my school fees, and the student portal was almost about to close, which meant my whole place in school was hanging by a thread. Every single morning came with the same heavy anxiety, no place to truly call home, school fee deadlines piling up and the very real fear that my studies were about to be interrupted.
That was the exact moment GAMAID Foundation stepped in and completely changed the direction of my university journey. They gave me secure shelter, allocating me a space in one of their houses straight away so I would not have to keep scrambling for somewhere to stay. When I got into my third year and once again could not secure hostel accommodation, they renewed that support without asking me to pay a kobo in rent. Even more importantly, they cleared my tuition for the entire second semester of my third year before the portal closed, saving me from late fees and other extra charges. They only asked me to refund the exact amount I would have paid myself, without ever putting on me the heavy institutional charges that usually weigh struggling students down.
Beyond meeting my immediate needs, GAMAID Foundation opened me up to vocational training that genuinely enriched my skills and stretched my horizons. Through their programmes, I learnt poultry farming, crop farming, fishery, house cleaning and ushering. And they did not just stop at teaching me, they actually connected me to paying jobs in ushering and house cleaning, so I could put those skills to use and earn a steady income. These hands on experiences did not just support me financially, they also boosted my confidence and shaped a strong work ethic in me, preparing me to contribute meaningfully both to myself and to my family.
Because of the shelter support they gave me, I never had to head back home whenever the hostel gates closed. I stayed in Uyo, continued with my extracurricular activities and remained fully engaged in campus life. Just knowing where I would sleep every night, and that my fees were sorted, gave me the freedom to truly focus on my studies, my leadership roles and my personal growth, without that constant fear of eviction or academic interruption hanging over my head.
I am deeply grateful for everything I have experienced through GAMAID Foundation. Their timely help turned a season of real hardship into one of progress and fresh hope. Foundations like this are honestly rare in our part of Nigeria, and I have felt their love and care in every single act of kindness. I will never forget the gift of security, support and skill development they have given me. May God continue to bless GAMAID Foundation and sustain this life changing work for many more students like me.