All parents wish for a delivery of a healthy child and Samuel Kaija and his wife Mary Gorretti were no exception. Nine years ago they happily welcomed their second child who appeared to be a normal baby girl. However, by the time their daughter was 8 months old, the Kaijas had come to a realization that she could neither speak nor hear. “Till today we still have that dilemma, why? She is not hearing.” Said, Mary Goretti Kaija – Enrika’s Mother. Though it took a while adjusting to raising a child with speech and hearing impairment, they made a decision to raise their daughter Enrika as they would do any other children and not to make feel her left out. “With Enrika, I now need to use Enrika to be an inspiration, parents have to learn that these kids can be anything.” Said, Enrika’s Mother. “It is painful but as you, there is nothing much you can do. That is God’s decision, so we had just to take her as she is.” Said, Samuel Kaija – Enrika’s Father.
As Enrika grew older, her parents realized she was interested in TV especially in shows about modeling and fashion. “Sometimes she could go to E. Entertainment because there are red carpets appearances. So then I started understanding and when you could tell her pause, she goes and pauses like those people.” Said Enrika’s Mother. As she joined the school, they also took her for modeling lessons to develop an interest in modeling. “It was interesting that Enrika managed to pick and even at modeling school she picks faster than other kids.” Said, Enrika’s Mother.
Enrika has become a role model to her age mates after winning several accolades. According to her parents, this has increased Enrika’s confidence and boosted her self-esteem. “When the crowning came for the little Miss Uganda now. I heard her name saying contester number 11 and that was Enrika and mentioning her was like wow she is the second runners-up it was like woo and that’s when I saw everybody was like she deserves it and I was like now Enrika has got support.” Said, Enrika’s Mother.
At home, she is a very active child taking part in housework more than any other child at their home. “She mops the house, she can make for you juice as you have seen her making the Juice, she cleans her shoes, she polishes her shoes, she irons her clothes even the baby’s clothes, everything she knows.” Said, Enrika’s Mother. According to her parents, they say the future is bright for Enrika who has turned into a major pillar in the family. “We support her in all, so in that way, in 10 years she can be someone I modeling and designing as she likes.” Said, Enrika’s Father. The story of Enrika is a lesson that any children living with any disability can go on to achieve a lot if they are given the right kind of support and encouragement.
