TOOLKIT
EMBRACE
verb [ trans. ] • hold (someone) closely in one’s arms, esp. as a sign of affection • accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically
Reaching out to the most vulnerable women by caring for their basic, essential needs.
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EMPOWER
verb give (someone) the authority or power to do something • enable (someone) to do (something) • [ trans. ] make (someone) stronger and more confident, esp. in controlling their life and claiming their rights
Developing and growing their life skills so they can build a sustainable life of dignity.
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ENGAGE verb [ intrans. ] ( engage in) participate or become involved in.
Helping ladies become successful business women and pillars of influence in their communities.Â
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INTRO
I’ve lived in Africa for almost 30 years and I’ve seen first-hand that the world is full of injustice. I’ve seen young girls forced to become sex slaves to rebel soldiers; I’ve seen women dying of AIDs without a hope or a prayer for themselves or their children; I’ve seen sisters who have been brutally violated, some of them with their lips, noses and ears cut off. I’ve seen women stripped of dignity, value and purpose.
I pray that the stories of the ladies at Living Hope have inspired and challenged you to become a conduit of hope in the lives of the many vulnerable women in Africa. We have prepared this beautiful toolkit for you in the hope that you will use it to help us spread the word about these precious ladies. We hope that you’ll use the fundraising ideas and add some of your own to raise support, so together we’re able to transform Africa.
The cry of my African sisters deeply captures my heart. God Bless You, 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. I’m in awe and humbled as people from all around the world, women and men, have come alongside us in this Kingdom cause.
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Founder: Living Hope
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ABOUT
Initiated in early 2008, the goal of Living Hope is to restore dignity to vulnerable women in Africa.
Left abandoned or widowed, the target group is HIV+ single women, returnees from abduction into the rebel army in northern Uganda and teenage mothers. The goal is to restore dignity to these women in the following ways: • Improving quality of life, assisting them with basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and medical care • Providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS care including counseling and psychosocial support • Empowering and equipping with vocational skills that will enable them to become productive members of their community • Setting up self-sustainable, income-generating projects using micro-finance loans • Spiritual and moral discipleship It is a widespread, but unacknowledged problem that girls in Africa miss school and stay at home when they reach the age of menstruation. In addition to empowering adult women, Living Hope established an initiative called ‘Keep A Girl in School’ which aims to address primary school drop-out and increase primary school exam completion among adolescent girls. This is achieved through the provision of sanitary towels and hygiene supplies along with strategic teaching on character development and life skills. The program also educates parents and the extended community on the benefits of girl child education.
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PROJECTS 1. ‘Keep a Girl In School’ This is a program aimed at reducing the primary school drop-out rate and increasing primary school exam completion among adolescent girls through the provision of sanitary towels and hygiene supplies. The program also raises awareness about this crisis and educates parents and other stakeholders in Africa on the benefits of girl child education.
4. Business Skills Training (Certified by Uganda Investment Authority) This program empowers ladies to become business people rather than just traders. It includes insight on business as a separate entity, choosing and locating a business, basic planning, book keeping and general financial management, customer service and basic management.
2. Trauma Rehabilitation The ladies are introduced to the power of Jesus Christ through forgiveness. They are given the opportunity to process and find freedom from the impact of their traumatic experiences. They receive trauma counseling, giving them the tools to confront their past, so they’re able to embrace their future.
5. Income Generating Training and Activities Living Hope runs several income generating activities that allows the women to earn an income by participating in the following productions: Tailoring, Jewelry and Beading, Peanut Butter, Animal Husbandry and Horticulture, Bee Keeping and Basic Baking.
3. Functional Adult Literacy Training is provided in functional literacy, numeracy and English-speaking to create access to information, community and business. The program includes training in public speaking, arts and crafts, handling domestic violence and reproductive health.
6. Spiritual and Life Skills Discipleship Introducing a Christian mindset and lifestyle based on the word of God. The ladies receive training in a Godly self-image, relationships, parenting, housekeeping, conflict resolution, community engagement and productivity.
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FUNDRAISE FOR LH 1. Ask for donations instead of birthday or Christmas gifts. 2. Host a Bake Sale; bake your
garden 27. Run a face-painting stand for kid’s parties or at your local market. 28. Host a trivia
own delicious goodies and sell them at your local markets, fêtes, school, to friends and also
night with your friends and family, or at school. 29. Run errands for people and ask for a donation.
in your work place. 3. Start a book club and charge each member $10 per month. 4. Host a
30. Create and sell your art work or your photographs 31. Offer your services. Offer to photograph
games night and charge people to play games and challenge each other to raise more funds. 5.
a wedding, family portraits or engagement pictures in exchange for a donation. 32. Teach people
Organize a garage sale; get your whole neighborhood, church, or school involved. 6. Put your
what you know, how to play an instrument: how to cook, how to take amazing pictures, how to paint/
handy work skills to use. Knit or crochet scarves, shawls, hats, blankets or make bracelets, all
draw or any other awesome skill in exchange for a donation. 33. Approach your local coffee shop
of which you can sell online or to friends and family. 7. Hire a projector and screen and host
and ask if they would donate a percentage of their coffee or baked goods sold. 34. Host a Fitness
a movie night at your home. 8. Do a closet cleanse! Invite your friends to a fun evening of
Class in exchange for a donation. 35. Offer your services for pet grooming and washing. 36. Host a
snacks and shopping! 9. Host a Bingo Evening. 10. Host a Fashion Show. 11. Green is good!
Talent Contest. 37. Grow and sell lavender in beautiful packages. 38. Organize your own ‘Open Day’
Grow your own fresh produce and sell at local markets or to your friends and family. 12. Host
with an exhibition of the artist’s work and charge an admission fee. The artist may also be willing to
a wedding shower and ask friends to bring ‘Undies for Africa’ instead of gifts. 13. Host cooking
donate a certain amount of his/her profit to your cause for each artwork sold. 39. Find a friend with
lesson evenings; teach your friends how to cook your ethnic food or share your culinary skills
a boat, charge a small admission fee, organize a breakfast and have fun on the water! 40. Gather
with others. 14. Offer to babysit in exchange for a donation. 15. Host a Car Wash. 16. Start
your friends, get sponsors and stay awake for 24 hours praying for your sisters in Africa.
a Dog Walking business. 17. Utilize your current business and donate 10% of all your profits. 18. Mow your neighbor’s lawn or shovel their driveway in exchange for a donation. 19. Make greeting cards or wrapping paper to sell to your friends, family and schoolmates. 20. Run a marathon. Get a group of friends together and get people to sponsor you to run the race. 21. Use your musical talents! Host a concert evening or afternoon or go busking to raise funds. 22. Collect your coins. Put all your loose change in a jar and challenge your friends to do the same. 23 Contact your local sports club and ask if you could sell refreshments to raise funds. 24. Have a chocolate, candy, or baked goods tray on your desk at work. Ask people to donate in order to enjoy the yummy treats. 25. Buy a great prize and wrap it. Put a chain and lock around it with only one key that fits. Sell keys for $X ($20-$50 depending on the place you are fundraising from and the item). Once you have sold all the keys get people to see if their key fits. 26. Have your very own mini-nursery stand. Flowers are always great sellers! Contact your local nursery to purchase at a discounted price or sell the flowers you grow in your own
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PRODUCTS 1
Jewelry
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Accessories
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Hospitality
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Gift Set
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Signature Doll
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Bags
FAQs ABOUT FUNDRAISING 1. How do I get started? Gather your friends and share the incredible stories of the women in Uganda discovering their potential in life. Think of creative ways you and your friends can support the various Living Hope programs to make a tangible difference in the lives of these women. Use the Living Hope Toolkit to start generating ideas and to find practical information including where to send your funds. 2. Who can fundraise for Living Hope? Anyone who has a passion for humanity and wants to be part of a powerful movement of women. There is no age limit. 3. Where do the funds go? All the money raised goes toward funding the Living Hope projects in Africa that help vulnerable women and girls change the course of their lives for better. 4. How can I get more resource materials for a fundraiser? All resource material is available to dowload at www.watoto.com/returntodignity. For additional assistance, please contact your nearest regional Watoto country office. (Contact details at the back page of this toolkit.) ABOUT LIVING HOPE 5. Is Living Hope part of Watoto? Yes. Living Hope was birthed in early 2008 from Watoto, a ministry of Watoto Church, when Watoto co-founder Marilyn Skinner saw the need to rescue vulnerable women so they could be empowered to look after themselves and raise their own children. 6. What is Living Hope’s mission? Living Hope’s mission is to restore dignity to vulnerable women through discipleship, vocational training, and trauma counseling. Living Hope Centers in Kampala and Gulu are a safe haven for many women, where Watoto offers them the opportunity to regain control of their lives and stand on their own feet again. 7. How many women does Living Hope care for? Living Hope has empowered over 2,600 women to date (July 2013). Most Living Hope women are enrolled in the program for one year. Some go on to become mentors and help train new ladies, others are employed in the Living Hope production units, and the majority start businesses of their own.
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8. What is ‘Keep A Girl In School’? ‘Keep a Girl in School’ is a Living Hope project providing support for teenage girls in school. Worldwide statistics show that on average 155 girls in every village in Africa have dropped out of school because they cannot afford sanitary towels and underwear at the age of menstruation. ‘Keep a Girl in School’ is aimed at reducing the primary school drop-out rate and increasing primary school exam completion among adolescent girls through the provision of sanitary towels and hygiene supplies, and character and life skills development. The program will also educate parents and other stakeholders on the benefits of girl child education. When you choose to partner with Living Hope, you support the ‘Keep A Girl in School’ program. 9. How can I get involved? There are many ways you can make a difference in the lives of women in Africa. Use the Living Hope Toolkit and start a fundraiser or campaign with your girlfriends. Become a monthly Living Hope Partner and keep the programs alive which benefit the girls and women. Come to Africa as a team and serve the ladies in various ways. Contact your regional Watoto office to see how you can serve. 10. Where can I find more information? Visit our webpage at www.watoto.com/livinghope ABOUT WATOTO 11. How did Watoto begin? In 1994 Watoto Church began to rescue orphaned and vulnerable children. Watoto is a holistic care program that was initiated as a response to the overwhelming number of orphaned and vulnerable children and women in Africa. It is positioned to rescue an individual, raise each one as a leader in their chosen sphere of life, so that they in turn will rebuild their nation. 12. What makes Watoto different from other organizations? Watoto places children in families rather than in large, institutional style orphanages. This ensures that children receive the individual love and care they require to grow up healthy and whole with a hope and a future. 13. How does Watoto care for children? Watoto places the most vulnerable children into families. Each family consists of 8 children and a mother who cares for them. Orphaned or abandoned babies 0-2 are brought into Baby Watoto and given proper care, medical support and a loving environment.
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RESOURCE Living Hope Documentary
14. Where do the children come from? Watoto employs several social workers who, with the approval of the Government of Uganda, locate and select the most vulnerable children. These children are some of the 2 million Ugandans who have been orphaned due to AIDS, poverty and war.
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15. Where do the mothers come from? Many Watoto mothers are widows. Some of them have children of their own. Watoto supports these women by giving them the opportunity to fulfill their roles as mothers. Each mother is responsible for the daily care of up to 8 children. Watoto mothers are not part of the Living Hope program.
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16. What are Watoto Villages? Watoto creates entire communities where children can learn and grow in a safe environment. These villages contain houses, schools, a medical clinic, a church & community hall, a clean water source, roads and electricity. 17. What is Baby Watoto? Baby Watoto was initiated to provide critical care to destitute babies aged 0-2 years old, giving them the best possible start in life. When they are older and physically well enough, they either graduate to a Watoto Village or are reunited with existing relatives. Currently, Watoto has three Baby Watoto facilities in Uganda. 18. Who are the Watoto Children’s Choir? The Watoto Children’s Choir travels internationally to help raise awareness about the plight of Africa’s orphans. Watoto’s performances are a soulful blend of native African rhythms, contemporary gospel music and ethnic dance. To learn more about the Watoto choir go to watoto.com/the-choir. 19. What countries does Watoto operate in? All of the children in Watoto are from Africa. Watoto has support offices in Asia, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Scandinavia, UK and USA. 20. Can I visit Watoto? Yes. Each year many people travel to Uganda to build houses, schools and clinics at the Watoto Villages. It is simple to organize your own trip and a visit to Uganda is an exciting opportunity for people of all ages. You do not need to have any building experience, as you will be working alongside a professional crew of Ugandan builders. To find out more, please contact your regional Watoto office.
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Event Flyer Event Posters, Event eMailers
Merchandise
Living Hope Factsheet
Get ready to raise support using the resources above. Go to www.watoto.com/returntodignity and download everything you need today.
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WATOTO CHURCH AT WORK