WWW.WATOTO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2013 | ISSUE NO. 3
INTO THE
FUTURE
When Sunday Okello decided to volunteer at the Luube Sustainability project, he had no idea how much he would learn by just offering his time. The 23-year-old former child soldier declares that his sole motivation for volunteering is to give back to and appreciate Watoto for choosing to invest in his life. “My experience at the Lubbe farm has been amazing. I have learnt so much, including how to grow a variety of crops and drive a tractor. It’s also given me the opportunity to learn all the skills I need to manage a successful agricultural project.” continued on pg. 2
WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
Okello was 13 when he first encountered the rebel soldiers in northern Uganda - an incident that scattered his family. His younger brother was abducted and the rest of the family relocated to Onyama Internally Displaced Camp in Gulu town. The rebels often targetted this camp to abduct boys and girls that they used as soldiers and wives. The rampant attacks forced Okello and his family to commute every evening to Gulu town to seek shelter on verandas of buildings. One day, Okello’s father suggested that they spend the night at home since the rebels hadn’t raided the camp for a while. The rebels struck with full force that evening. Okello, his brother and about 70 children were abducted from the camp. They walked north for many hours and were eventually initiated into the rebel movement after experiencing 150 strikes continued from pg. 1
from a wooden cane. He spent two months in Uganda and was later forced to walk 500 km to Sudan where he came face to face with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel leader, Joseph Kony. Two months later, the rebel leader commanded the regiment to return to Uganda to stock up on ammunition, food and soldiers. 10 km from the Sudanese border, the rebels encountered a fire exchange with The Ugandan Government soldiers for over 7 hours. Many lives were lost, but they escaped. Once in Uganda, their job was to abduct more children and loot food. It was during this mission that Okello escaped. He was rescued by Ugandan Government soldiers who enrolled him for trauma counselling at the Gulu Support the Children organisation (GUSCO), now Watoto’s Living Hope Centre for trauma rehabilition of vulnerable women. After four months of intensive counselling, Okello decided to
go to school, but didn’t have any money. Just as he was about to give up, a team from Watoto led by co-founder Marilyn Skinner, visited the camp. Okello joined the Watoto family soon after. “I was amazed by the opportunities that opened up. I was enrolled into the best secondary school in Gulu because the Watoto School hadn’t opened up in northern Uganda at the time.” After finishing high school, he completed a certificate in Crop Production and Animal Management. Okello also participated in the Watoto3600 discipleship program and offered to volunteer with the Watoto Sustainability project. “I have learnt so much by working at the Lubbe farm. It has literally opened the door to my dreams. I have already started a farmers’ association in partnership with some of my former college mates and I have dreams of running farming projects in northern Uganda and exporting product,” says Okello.
EMBAR Eight former Watoto children graduated from various universities around Uganda in July 2013. Each of them excelled in their respective fields, including Business, Law, Finance, Fashion & Design, Development Studies, Science and Information Technology. The Education Department of Watoto organised a joyous event to celebrate the achievements of the graduates. Jane Nalwada, who graduated with a diploma in Fashion & Design wore a dress she personally designed. She was thankful to Watoto for the opportunity they had granted her. She was particularly grateful
GIFTS FOR ALL
The Watoto villages bubbled with excitement as gift distribution day arrived on July 6, 2013. A collection of assorted gifts, including toys, school bags, dictionaries, wristwatches, calculators and perfume were
distributed. “I have always wanted a dictionary. I have been borrowing from my friends. Now that I have my own, I can spend time learning new words and my English grades will improve,” says Doreen
Birungi, a high school student. Watoto changed its gift policy on October 1, 2012 so that sponsors can contribute gifts or monetary donations to a gift pool rather than give individual gifts as some children and mothers were receiving exorbitant gifts, but many received nothing. Watoto Mama Racheal Kafuko shared, “This policy is very good because every child gets a gift – no-one is left out.” Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the gift pool! Your generosity and support is invaluable to us, and allows us to bless each mother and child in our villages with a special gift on their birthdays. If you would like to to help us celebrate special occasions at Watoto by contributing to the Watoto gift pool, visit www.watoto.com/donate and leave ‘gift pool’ in the comments. Alternatively, phone 07 3208 3500 to donate over the phone. Everyone is welcome to contribute – not just sponsors!
LOVING THRO Watoto sponsor Simon Day recently shared about how much he has enjoyed building a relationship with his sponsor child through writing letters. “We have been tremendously blessed by the beautiful letters we receive from our sponsor child, Penelope. I had my little seven-year-old daughter sit down and write back, plus we sent some photos of ourselves to her. I try to write her as often as I can because she seems to derive tremendous encouragement from this.”
RKING ON A NEW JOURNEY for her Watoto mother, sponsors and everyone else who contributed to her achievements. Sarah Kigozi, Watoto’s Child Welfare team leader encouraged, urged and advised the graduates to exemplify the character of Christ in all they did. Education Team Leader Dorcas Kibirige encouraged the hopeful graduates to continue in their pursuit of excellence. Without the continuous support of sponsors and partners globally, none of these graduates would have had the opportunity to pursue an education. Join the journey and sponsor a life today. For more information visit www. watoto.com/sponsorship.
OUGH LETTERS Watoto sponsors are not the only ones who are blessed by sponsor letters. Gloria Awoko from Watoto’s village in Northern Uganda shared, “I like receiving letters from my sponsors to know how they are. Reading that the Lord has a wonderful plan for my life in one letter made me feel that someone really cared for me.” Richard Opiyo, also from northern Uganda, shared, “I feel happy receiving letters from my sponsors because I get to know more about them. My favourite letter was when my sponsor
wrote that I am growing up to be a good leader in my community.” Watoto has developed new resources to make it even easier for you to write to your sponsored individual. If you currently sponsor a Watoto child, mother or teacher, you would have received with this newsletter a postcard with some ideas. Did you know you can also email your sponsored individual using our online sponsor letter template? Visit www.watotoaustralia.com. au/sponsorship and select Sponsor Resources to download the template and send a letter today! Alternatively, you can send a letter via email to uganda.sponsor@watoto. com that will be delivered to your sponsored individual. Other resources, such as sponsorship FAQ’s, correspondence guidelines, payment FAQ’s and the gift policy are also available on our website. Visit www.watotoaustralia.com.au/sponsorship, select Sponsor Resources and download them today so you have them handy to answer your sponsorship questions.
RETURN TO DIGNITY TOUR
Living Hope founder Marilyn Skinner is travelling across the world sharing the incredible stories of the brave women at Watoto’s Living Hope. Formerly vulnerable, these ladies have overcome some of life’s worst tragedies and are now living a fulfilled life of purpose and influence. The Return to Dignity Tour was launched to mobilise women around the world so they can make a tangible difference in the lives of the precious women of Africa. “The cry of my African sisters deeply captures my heart. Living Hope exists because we believe that God loves each and every woman no matter what her circumstance. He wants to see all of us flourish as mothers, daughters and sisters,” says Marilyn Skinner.
The Return to Dignity tour comes to Australia this November, and we invite you to be part of this important movement that can change the face of Africa. Support this movement by attending a local event and/or downloading the Return to Dignity toolkit at www.watoto.com/ returntodignity and helping us raise awareness and support for Living Hope.
Living Hope founder Marilyn Skinner is coming to Australia November 11-17. Visit www.watoto.com/ returntodignity for the tour location nearest you.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COME ON THE
TRIP OF A LIFETIME! Have you considered meeting your sponsor child, mother or teacher? Seeing the precious babies and toddlers at Baby Watoto? Hearing firsthand stories from Living Hope? One of our supporters, Nico, did that this year! He shared: “The time in Uganda was unforgettable and especially Gulu was a real eye opener. I was looked after like a VIP along the way and got to see all departments and projects of Watoto. Zaina (sponsor child) and I clicked within seconds!” For more information or to express interest, please contact our Visit Watoto Coordinator, Dennis Brown at : australia@watoto.com or 07 3208 3500. Watoto Australia is organising a two week trip for current sponsors to visit Watoto in September 2014! With a key member of our staff leading the tour, we will be visiting Watoto villages, projects and sponsored individuals, as well as the option of a safari, white water rafting or cruise on the Nile!
“ We clicked within seconds.”
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.