Message From Our Leaders
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..”
—James 1:17a (NIV) We love this verse in the book of James, because it reminds us that we have a loving Father in heaven who wants the best, not only for our lives, but for everyone. And believe it or not, you are a good and perfect gift to Watoto. It’s because of people just like you that we are able to reach the lost with the love of Jesus. Africa has a troubled history, but we’re here to tell you there is hope. Jesus is using Watoto to transform lives. As you read the following pages, we pray you can see the exciting vision God has given Watoto to bring hope to the lost, and healing to those hurting around us. Each sponsor and partner helps make this important work possible, and we are grateful for the good and perfect gift you are to all of us at Watoto. Blessings,
Julius & Vernita Rwotlonyo Team Leaders, Watoto 2
Who We Are
Watoto is a family made up of people from all over the world who are working together to ensure the forgotten have a place to belong. In 1984, during a time of civil war, our founders Gary and Marilyn Skinner planted a local church in Kampala, Uganda to speak hope and life to the nation. Since then, we’ve rescued orphaned and abandoned children, placing them in loving families. We’ve come alongside vulnerable women, equipping them with skills and empowering them to be the mothers and leaders God has called them to be. And to help our hurting neighbours, we’ve extended our reach into South Sudan. Over the past 40 years, the challenges facing Africa have changed, but our goal remains the same. We come alongside the most vulnerable in our society, embracing them with the love of Jesus as we work to give each woman, child and baby a chance at a better future—a future full of promise.
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We believe God’s call for the global church is to care for the hurting and vulnerable.
We invite you to join with us as we celebrate Christ and care for community. 4
40+years rebuilding Africa Rescued over 1,600 babies Raised over 5,500 children Empowered more than 6,500 women 5
At the heart of the Watoto Children’s Choir is a message of God’s unfailing love. It’s what each of our kids has experienced in their own lives—He places abandoned and forgotten children in families full of love. When people see our children from Uganda, with their hearts healed and their dreams restored, when they see how God has placed the forgotten and abandoned in loving families—they can’t help but realize that this same God cares for them too.
From concerts of 100 people to special events with crowds of 45,000, we’re grateful to each and every person who worships with us.
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It’s important to remember where you started. Back in 1994, founders Gary and Marilyn Skinner took a step of faith to tell the Watoto story around the world. Imagine traveling with a dozen children, who’ve never left their home, to perform in America. In the early days, Gary would drive a yellow school bus, in the winter, with no heater. That’s how the Watoto Children’s Choir was born.
When we look at our humble beginnings and where we are now, we can only say it’s because of God. Since the “school bus days”, we’ve sent out more than 100 choirs around the world. During that time, our choirs have met Her Majesty the Queen, performed for the
President of the United States and visited almost every major parliament in the world. The education our kids receive while on tour is second to none. Imagine a school field trip where you visit Buckingham Palace and curtsey before the Queen. Yet, as remarkable as those moments have been, we cherish our time with the many people we have met all over the world, along with the special moments of ministry where we’ve seen the love of Jesus in action.
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Jane
Rescued as a baby Dreams of being a doctor
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Liam
Rescued as a baby Wants to be a policeman
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Sponsorship Volunteer Church Partners WAYS TO HELP
You can help us embrace vulnerable women with the love of Jesus and restore their dignity.
Share your experiences through training, discipleship or serving. Everyone has something to offer.
Watoto’s a local church with partners all over the world. Let’s find ways to strengthen each other. 10
A Watoto village is a safe place where a child can truly experience the love of a family. Our villages provide homes, families and holistic care to over 3,000 children who receive everything they need to grow up healthy and whole—food, clothing, medical care, education and most of all the love of a mother. Across our three villages—Suubi, Bbira and Laminadera—our mothers have their hands full. Each home is made up of a Watoto mother who is raising eight orphaned and vulnerable children. Together, they’re a family. Since we first began, 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. This is made possible by the love and support of people throughout the world. Each of you—our sponsors and church partners—are truly helping us raise Africa’s future leaders.
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We rescue Uganda’s most vulnerable babies, providing them with a loving family and a future full of hope. Many babies in Uganda are orphaned or abandoned, often found at bus stops, churches, hospitals, and even found by the side of the road—and we thank God that together we can change their stories. Whether babies come to us with serious medical conditions, or just need lots of cuddles, clean diapers, and warm milk, we make sure they receive the medical care, nutrition, and love they desperately need to help give them the best possible start in life. Regardless of how they come to us, we provide the love and care each little one needs to grow up healthy and whole.
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Our goal is to help our babies bond, develop, and thrive—knowing we’re raising Africa’s future pilots, lawyers, builders, and leaders.
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Sponsorship Volunteer Church Partners WAYS TO HELP
You can help us embrace vulnerable women with the love of Jesus and restore their dignity.
Share your experiences through training, discipleship or serving. Everyone has something to offer.
Watoto’s a local church with partners all over the world. Let’s find ways to strengthen each other. 13
Sponsorship Volunteer Church Partners WAYS TO HELP
You can help us embrace vulnerable women with the love of Jesus and restore their dignity.
Share your experiences through training, discipleship or serving. Everyone has something to offer.
Watoto’s a local church with partners all over the world. Let’s find ways to strengthen each other. 14
Africa’s greatest empowered.
resource
is
her
women,
The harsh reality is that many women throughout Uganda and South Sudan have been left to bear the brunt of war, poverty and disease. Millions of our sisters have been abandoned and robbed of all dignity. Uneducated and unemployable, they are left to suffer alone. But together, we’re changing this by providing adult literacy classes, discipleship, business skills training and job opportunities. As we embrace these women with the love of Jesus and empower them with skills, they find hope and purpose. We passionately believe that when a woman is empowered, she can reach her full potential and her whole family is transformed.
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South Sudan At Watoto, we have faith in Jesus. Yet we ask ourselves, what good is our faith if our brothers and sisters lack food or clothes and we do nothing? In Juba, South Sudan the need is staggering. Over the past 40 years, we’ve seen God use our faith-inaction in Uganda to accomplish more than we could have ever imagined. We know that He can do the same in Juba. We believe South Sudan’s future will be brighter than its past, because of what we do today.
“With eyes of faith I see a miracle unfolding before me—where women and children will have their stories transformed. Mothers will raise up a generation who know the Lord and will transform the nation for His glory.” -Vernita Rwotlonyo, Watoto Neighbourhood
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Keep A Girl In School
Every girl matters and every girl has the right to stay in school. For girls like Joyce (pictured here), education isn’t just important for a brighter future, it’s critical to their survival. Yet, girls often drop out of school simply because they can’t afford feminine hygiene products. A lack of education leads to vulnerability. Vulnerability leads to unwanted pregnancy, human trafficking, sexual abuse, domestic violence, HIV, early marriage, and a life of no choices. Together, we can change this.
Education plays a critical role in breaking the cycle of poverty and violence. When girls are kept in school, they stand a better chance of growing into empowered women who transform their neighbourhoods and nations. Currently, we’re working alongside local schools in Uganda and South Sudan to reduce the dropout rate by providing sanitary products, teaching girls their value in Christ and igniting their passion for education. We’re also teaching young boys to respect and protect their female classmates and reminding girls that they matter, and their bodies are their own. With your help, we can keep girls in school, educated and empowered—and we can change their future.
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We go into the hardest of places, sharing the love of Jesus and providing opportunities for education while empowering the most vulnerable. As we move forward, we will undoubtedly continue to do God’s work in Uganda while expanding our reach in South Sudan and other places throughout Africa that are crying out for help. Today, millions of mothers in Uganda and South Sudan struggle to feed their children. These mothers and children are not the problem, they are the solution. Empowering vulnerable women with the love of Jesus, and providing trauma counseling, discipleship and job training will not only change their lives, but their children’s lives and future generations to come. We will continue to ensure children receive medical care, regular meals, and the opportunity to attend school. We believe every child deserves the hope of tomorrow. We see their potential as future leaders to change their communities and help rebuild their nation with the love of Jesus. We know this is possible because we’ve seen it happen every day for the past 40 years in Uganda. Let’s not simply look at the situation and hope it gets better, let’s act and make a difference.
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At Watoto, we have seen the love of Christ in action, transforming thousands of lives. It’s this love that compels us to embrace those hurting in our world. Let’s work together in reaching our communities, building up our neighbours and bringing the lost home. 19
WAYS TO HELP
Sponsorship Volunteer Church Partners
You are a key part to changing the world. The Bible says God loves you and not only are you saved through His grace, but you are created in Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Maybe you’re a teacher, a mechanic, a pastor or someone who likes to host dinner parties. God uniquely gifted you, so why not use your gifts and talents to help others?
No matter what role you play, to us it’s much more than a particular project. It’s connecting with God’s family throughout the world to make a tangible difference in the lives of women and children in Uganda and South Sudan. And to us, you’re a hero.
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Recently, David Cardno decided to raise awareness and support for Watoto by jumping out of an airplane. “I just wanted to help. Doing a skydive seemed crazy enough to attract some serious attention, which helped me to raise as much as possible for Watoto.”
Watoto Ambassadors are
people who rally and help spread the word about the work God is doing through Watoto. Be it through fundraising activities like David’s, hosting events, or simply sharing stories of hope online, this is your chance to have a lasting impact as only you can.
Watoto
Sponsors make sure each child grows up knowing the love of Jesus, receives a great education and medical care, and has a family all their own. They also provide emotional support that is critical to raising our future leaders. As a sponsor, you can play a vital role in a child’s life. Watoto Church Partners live out James 1:27, partnering with us in unique and meaningful ways. Whether hosting the Watoto Children’s Choir, sending teams to Africa, or sharing the Watoto story from their platforms, we’re grateful to be connected to the body of Christ in such a powerful way. We’d love for you and your church to join us as we rebuild Africa.
WAYS TO HELP
Ambassadors Sponsors Church Partners WATOTO.com 21
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WATOTO UGANDA (HEAD OFFICE) PHONE: +256 (0) 779 676 559 EMAIL: UGANDA@WATOTO.COM
Global Support Offices WATOTO ASIA PHONE: +852 2639 9797 EMAIL: ASIA@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO NETHERLANDS PHONE: +31 614 591 196 EMAIL: NEDERLAND@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO AUSTRALIA PHONE: +61 (3) 9645 6547 EMAIL: AUSTRALIA@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO NORWAY PHONE: +47 977 61 010 EMAIL: NORWAY@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO BRASIL PHONE: +55 (41) 3039 7102 EMAIL: BRASIL@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO SWEDEN PHONE: +46 10 221 61 73 EMAIL: SWEDEN@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO CANADA PHONE: +1 888 9WATOTO EMAIL: CANADA@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO UK PHONE: +44 203 225 1048 EMAIL: UK@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO GERMANY PHONE: +49 152 553 00 288 EMAIL: GERMANY@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO USA PHONE: +1 813 948 4343 EMAIL: USA@WATOTO.COM
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