WATOTO VILLAGES

OUR VILLAGES

Our Watoto villages provide a safe place where a child can truly experience the love of a family. Since we first began over 25 years ago, we’ve rescued and provided a home, an education, a family and a bright future to over 5,500 children—and each year our family here grows. In fact, last year we newly welcomed 164 children into our villages. And despite the challenges that 2020 brought, we continued to see God’s love in action in new and inspiring ways—from our teachers and mothers coming up with creative ways to ensure our kids could continue their education, to our medical staff going above and beyond to keep our Watoto family healthy and safe, to our pastoral team, coaches and leaders providing spiritual guidance and mentorship, to each of you—our amazing sponsors and partners—whose prayers and support helped carry us through. We are forever grateful!

164 CHILDREN WELCOMED INTO OUR VILLAGES Thanks to you—our faithful sponsors and partners—last year 164 children received a home, an education and a loving family.

3,277 CHLDREN CARED FOR ACROSS OUR 3 VILLAGES Every day, across our three villages—Suubi, Bbira and Laminadera— we cared for more than 3,200 children. While we physically cared for them, your support ensured that all their needs were met.

MEET PIUS

Pius is a 12-year-old who is full of hope—and he is living proof that sponsorship works. After the death of his parents, Pius was rescued and brought to Watoto. Because of you—and all our sponsors around the world—today he has a home, an education, a mother that loves him, and everything he needs to grow up healthy and whole. Like many boys his age, Pius likes planes and dreams of becoming a pilot one day. While it may be a few years before that happens, in 2019 Pius got the opportunity to take his very first plane ride when he traveled to Australia as part of the Watoto Children’s Choir. While on tour, he loved being able to share the Gospel and tell people about all the amazing things God has done in his life. This is what sponsorship does. It creates hope and dreams, and ensures children like Pius get to grow up surrounded by the love of Christ. Thank you for giving Pius, and his more than 3,000 Watoto brothers and sisters, a bright future that every precious child deserves.

EDUCATION

Like many of you experienced, last year due to the pandemic school looked a bit different. Because of a national lockdown and school closures, we had to adjust and find new ways to educate our kids. To help our students continue their studies while schools were closed, our teachers brought the “classroom” to them. They would go to the students’ homes and village circles—teaching the kids in small groups. And our Watoto mothers worked closely with the teachers, ensuring their homes—and their children—were prepped and ready for class. They also helped make sure everyone was following protocols and staying safe. We’re thankful for our teachers and mothers, and those around the world, for finding creative solutions in such a unique year.

2,839 STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT ON OUR VILLAGES Across our three villages, 158 teachers worked closely with our Watoto mothers to ensure that each of our 2,839 students continued to learn and grow in new and creative ways.

356 STUDYING AT UNIVERSITY OR A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL We’re proud that 356 of our students are continuing their education at a university or vocational school. And we celebrated as 34 of our students graduated from university last year.

RAISING FUTURE LEADERS

We continue to expand education beyond the purely academic, so that we can encourage and equip our children—wherever their talents lie. From school clubs like Music, Dance and Drama to our Sports Academy and our Worship Academy, we provide opportunities for our children to explore their passions. And last year these programs were vital as we worked hard to keep our kids active and engaged during the lockdown. We’re grateful to our leaders, coaches and mentors who are helping our children grow in skill and character, as they discover their identity in Christ. Together, we are raising Uganda’s future leaders.

591 ATHLETES IN OUR SPORTS ACADEMY Our coaches trained and mentored 591 children— helping them play at their best and build their character on and off the field (or court). Our students learned to work together, play together and pray together.

NEW STUDENTS IN WORSHIP ACADEMY

Last year we welcomed 151 students—who had never played an instrument before—into our Worship Academy. We can’t wait to see these kids use their newly found talents to worship and glorify God.

151

1,232 STUDENTS IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES We’re thrilled that 1,232 students participated in at least one of our extracurricular activities. And grateful to all our coaches and teachers for helping us raise these future leaders.