WWW.WATOTO.COM | MAR 2013 | ISSUE NO.1
RAISED BY COMMUNITY
Every child is born with the capacity to excel and reach their full potential in life. All they need is love, nurture and some basic necessities. In Africa, most children don’t have access to the very basics, such as shelter or food. As a result, most of them don’t even dream of a future.
Through the love of Jesus, Watoto restores hope to the lives of children, so they’re able to dream again. Currently, Watoto cares for almost 3,000 children. More than 150
WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
have come through the program and are now productive citizens. They have been given back the potential to fulfill their dreams. continued on pg. 2
They were rescued as orphans by social workers, nurtured and cared for by loving Watoto mums, educated by teachers, healed physically and emotionally by caring doctors and counsellors, spiritually discipled by pastors, and supported by generous sponsors and friends like you. These children have graduated from tertiary education and are now responsible and productive adults, earning an honest living and helping to rebuild their community and country. It takes a community of positive influences to raise a child in any context. 159 is only a small part of almost 3,000 children currently under Watoto’s care. 3,000 is a small part of the thousands of orphans still needing to be rescued in Africa. As a response to this need, Watoto is launching the RAISED BY COMMUNITY campaign to increase awareness and support for the work we do to raise the future leaders of Uganda. Become an ambassador and support the campaign by telling your friends, family, work colleagues and community about it. Like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For easy access to campaign material such as posters and FB icons, go to www.watoto.com/raisedbycommunity.
Richard Opiyo’s life is evidence of the fact that love changes a story. A jolly and active young leader who lives in Watoto’s Laminadera Village, Richard appreciates that life is a gift to treasure because it has not always been this way. Born on May 3rd 2001, Richard’s parents were both abducted by rebel forces during the 20-year civil war in northern Uganda. He was born in captivity, but was lucky to escape. However, he lost his father in the process. He then started living with his relatives, but that also did not last. “One day I was taken to
LIVING HOPE It has been an amazing start to the year at Living Hope. In February, 202 precious ladies graduated from the program. The event was attended by Gary and Marilyn Skinner, with Gulu’s Local Council Chairman, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi as the Guest of Honour. In March, we opened our brand new facility in Kampala. Not only will this move create additional space for the empowerment of ladies, but we’ve also added a coffee shop to it. So while visitors get their daily dose of coffee, we’ll be able to raise further awareness and support for Living Hope. In 2011, Watoto discovered that more than 50% of the girls in the region of northern Uganda drop out of school at the age of menstruation. UNICEF reports that one in ten school girls in Africa miss class or drop out of school completely due to their period, and substitute pads or tampons for less safe and less absorbent materials such as rags, newspaper or bark. Living Hope launched the Keep a Girl in School initiative to help address the situation. The main objectives of this initiative are:
Annual Watoto Mother’s Day High Tea
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Ladies, bring your mum, girlfriends, daughters, or any of the other important women in your life, and come along to experience the amazing Watoto Children’s Choir while enjoying a delicious high tea. Mingle with the choir and hear more about the life-changing work of the Watoto mums.
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Date: May 11th 2013, 10.30am - 12.30pm Venue: Gateway Baptist, 1052 Mt Gravatt - Capalaba Rd, Mackenzie QLD 4156 Cost: $20.00 RSVP to Ruth Mitchell on 07 3208 3500 or email mediaau@watoto.com. Be quick as places are limited!
ITS MY TURN school, but no one came to take me back home. I was very hungry and a stranger took me to their home and gave me food,” says Richard. Richard joined Watoto in 2008 and this marked the beginning of a new journey for him. He now has brothers and sisters and a mum to care for him. With his new life, the wounds of the past have slowly healed. “My favourite thing about being at Watoto is the love and care that my mother
shows me.” With a dream of one day becoming a teacher or pilot, Richard is currently in grade four and his favourite subject is Science. He is privileged to be among the boys and girls who will travel to Australia and Asia spreading a message of hope with Watoto Children’s Choir 61. Richard loves to dance and sing and enjoys doing his school lessons with his uncles and aunties. “I am looking forward to travelling on a big
Identifying schools in northern Uganda with high girl child dropout rates due to the reasons stated above Raising awareness about this crisis Raising further support to provide sanitary towels and underwear to the girls in these schools Providing counselling and life skills training for the girls by working with the schools Developing sensitisation programs for the community
You gave generously financially and in kind and we were able to distribute sanitary towels and start mentorship classes in two of the schools. This year, there has been a 0% dropout at these schools, and some of the girls who had dropped out in previous years have returned. There are many ways you can get involved in this initiative. Help us raise awareness and support to reach more girls. Please contact sponsorau@watoto.com for more information.
plane, meeting new people and tasting new kinds of food,” says Richard. Mark Aikiriza is the Choir 61 Tour Leader. He commented that, “I am privileged to be leading the amazing Watoto Children’s Choir 61 currently training in Uganda. I have had the honour of touring with the choir for two years and my life has not remained the same. It is also profound how this experience impacts the children’s lives. The adults are doing an incredible job with the children as we get ourselves ready for the tour in Australia and Asia.” Choir 61 arrives on Austra-
lian shores in early May and will be touring for 4 months. If you would like to host the choir, contact Kerri-Ann on 07 3208 3500 or email choirau@ watoto.com to enquire. The Sponsorship department is currently in contact with the sponsors of children who will be travelling to Australia with Choir 61. 2013 Tour Outline May
QLD
June
NSW
July
VIC, TAS
August
SA, WA
VISIT AFRICA Change a Nation
www.watoto.com/visitwatoto
Watoto Australia PO Box 782 SPRINGWOOD, QLD 4127 (07) 3208 3500 australia@watoto.com
Watoto Child Care Ministries (Australia) is proud to be a partner for Projects J210, J329, J416 with Global Development Group, the AusAID approved NGO responsible for the aid & development projects according to AusAID guidelines.