Shakul (9, with the phone) plays snake on his brothers' phone while his friends from school are watching. "Even though it is sad that friends don't always understand me because I'm deaf, I think it's fantastic that they are always there for me. It makes me happy." Shortly after Shakul was born, his parents decided it would be better if he lived with his grandmother. When he was three years old, grandma learned that he was different from other children. It turned out Shakul was born with a rare genetic condition called Waardenburg Syndrome, affecting pigmentation and hearing. Although Shakul's grandma didn’t have a reliable income, she quickly fell in love with her grandson and committed to raising him, whatever it took. In Namatovu’s care, she would do anything to keep him enrolled in school. Namatovu: "Shakul makes friends very quickly. It doesn't matter if they are deaf or not, he makes contact very easily. Shakul is a beloved part of his community. That's why I'm not very worried about his future. He will always deserve a place in society."