Fred is a 14-year-old boy from Uganda in East Africa. When he was 6 years old

his father died of AIDS. A year before that his mother died of the same disease. At the

age of six Fred was an orphan and had to take care of himself and his 3-year-old

brother, Sid. His relatives on his father’s side chased both boys out of his home in the

village and shared all that they owned among themselves. They blamed Fred’s mother

for his father’s death.

A neighbour helped them make a rough shelter for them on his coffee farm and

gave them some food. They stayed there for two years.

Needing money for food and school, he set about looking for work. He fetched

water for the men working on a building site and earned the equivalent to 20 US cents a

day. This was not enough money to send Sid to school.

Fortunately for Fred and Sid a Christian aid organisation discovered the boys.

The organisation provided the boys with food, clothes and money for school. They

lived in a proper house with a garden and four goats. They grew bananas, sweet

potatoes and beans. They both attended school and want to become doctors.



If Fred’s parents (not die), he (be) an orphan.

If Fred’s and Sid’s relatives (be) kinder, they (not chase) them out of the village.

If Fred’s and Sid’s relatives (not be) so greedy,

they (not steal) all their things.

If a neighbour (not help) Sid and Fred, they (die).

If a neighbour (not give) food, the boys (starve) to death.

If the Christian aid organisation (not find) the boys,

they (not attended school.

If they (not attend) school, they (be) able to get a

good job.