WWW.WATOTO.COM | MARCH 2015 | ISSUE NO.1
WELCOME HOME We were thrilled to graduate over 10 toddlers from Baby Watoto to our Watoto Suubi Village this February. The bubbly infants were welcomed by excited moms and siblings in their new families. It was a momentous occasion for all. Abandoned babies rescued by Baby Watoto find a permanent home in a Watoto village when they’re old enough. It was a rainy morning, but not even the weather could dampen the spirits of moms and
babies. “I am excited for my new bundles of joy. I’m going to love and care for these two boys with all my heart. My other children are in school, so I have quite a bit of time to dedicate to the babies during the day,” said mama Rose Nabulime. “The toddlers’ graduation to the homes is an opportunity for them to be in a new environment, with siblings to grow up with,” said Fred Katoogo, Baby Watoto Team Leader. A month before the toddlers moved to the village, their new mothers spent time with them at Baby Watoto. This helped in the bonding
process, which is key to their security and development. “This practice is encouraged to help the mother and child get to know each other and also build a relationship. At the time of graduation the mother is no longer a stranger to the child but rather a person who loves and cares for them,” said Katoogo. Since 2007, over 1,000 vulnerable babies have been rescued through Baby Watoto. They now have a chance at a real future. Partner with us to rescue babies. Log onto www.watoto.com/sponsorship to sponsor Baby Watoto now.
WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
CHOIR 71 GRA Watoto Choir 71 cannot contain its excitement about sharing the Father’s love everywhere they sing in beautiful Canada. Recently, the choir had the unique opportunity to sing the national anthems at Rogers
For information of the cho www.watoto.com/choir
A NEW START Lucy Anyanyo is one of 191 women who joined Living Hope Gulu last year and experienced the power of community. When Lucy was bedridden and hopeless, she received a visit from Florence Acaa, an HIV+ woman who has been empowered through Living Hope. Florence is now a community leader for Living Hope in Gulu. She works at her stall in the market, but is actively involved in finding women like Lucy who are hiding because of their HIV status. When Lucy’s husband died of HIV/AIDS, Lucy lost all hope. “I was certain that the next thing for me was death, and that my children would lose their mother. I thought the
stress alone would kill me,” she said. Florence had met Lucy at the clinic and recognised her as a neighbour. When she noticed that Lucy was becoming very sick, Florence knocked on her door and shared her own story with Lucy. “I couldn’t tell that Florence was also HIV positive until she disclosed it. Florence convinced me that I could live,” she said. With Florence’s support, Lucy took her first steps toward recovery. Florence was there to pray with her as Lucy overcame the strong effects of the ARV treatment. Last year, Florence helped Lucy sign up for Living Hope. “Through trauma counselling I was able to release the stress and pain from my past. I learned that God loves me no
matter what,” she said. The ladies from our 2014 intake have experienced our embrace, but this year they will also be empowered through one of our many skills departments. We are excited to see them thrive as they continue to grow in different areas. Lucy is learning how to sew Living Hope’s new Amito doll, which is on sale with the Watoto Choirs this year. The allowance she makes as a trainee at our centre helps her support her three children and pay her rent. Email us at livinghope@watoto. com if you would like to help us empower women like Lucy so that they also become leaders who engage with their community and bring hope to others.
A FEW SENTENCES FROM BABY WATOTO Life changing! Today was a day I will never forget and I pray it will always have an effect on me. I was nervous to be traveling alone to Uganda; however, from the time I arrived I was welcomed by everyone at Watoto and quickly felt at home. I was excited to finally be in Africa doing what I came to do, but NOTHING could have prepared me for what was ahead. My experience volunteering at Baby Watoto was amazing. The
babies stole my heart from day one, and it was incredible to see how loved and cared for they are by the nannies. I didn’t know the story behind every baby I held. Who had brought them there and why? Had they been abandoned by a teenage mother, too afraid to keep them? Had something happened to their family? All I knew was that I got to hold and feed them and feel their little heads snuggle up against my chest as they lay quietly.
Baby Watoto is a place of refuge for infants who have been abandoned by their mothers. Some are found in trash cans or born with medical complications and then discarded by their parents. The work Watoto is doing in Uganda is changing the lives of so many children, and I am thankful I had the opportunity to be a small part of it. Emily Jones
ACES CANUCK’S GAME Arena for the Canucks game against the Wild. For almost 10 minutes the children from Africa were the scene in front of many Canuck fans and Canadians. The emotional rendition of Canada’s national anthem gave way to cheering, as fans – applauded until
the Watoto Choir left the ice. This choir launched a sixmonth cross-Canada tour on the West coast earlier this January. They will stop at several local churches and venues as they travel all across Canada.
oir schedule, please visit
ACHIEVERS 2014 was indeed an incredible year. And the academic excellence achieved by our students added to the jubilation. The release of the 2014 Primary Leaving Examinations and Uganda Certificate Examinations brought Watoto such pride and joy. The students of our schools, Hope Junior School and Hope Senior School, performed well beyond our expectations. Jeremiah Mutyaba, the best performing student at Hope Senior School, ranked among the best performing students in the country. Jonathan Muganzi at Hope Junior School achieved 5 aggregates in 4 subjects, a pass with several distinctions. As a result of these and other
VOLUNTEER IN AFRICA JOIN A TEAM
UPCOMING TRIPS - Baby Watoto Team JULY 2015 & JUNE 2016 - Pastoral & Cultural Leadership Team OCTOBER 2015 - Sponsor Team OCTOBER 2015 Visit your sponsored Child/Mother
performances, our primary school finished as the top school in the district and our high school finished as one of the top 10 schools in the district. Your faithful giving has contributed to these accomplishments. Jonathan’s dream is to become a medical doctor, and Jeremiah wants to study Food Science and Technology. Thank you for all you do for these children. “I want to solve the problem of wide spread hunger in Africa. That’s why I thought it would be good to become a food scientist,” says Jeremiah. If you already sponsor a child, get somebody else on board in this worthy cause. Direct them to www.watoto.com/sponsorship.
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BOOK THE CHOIR FOR 2016 www.watoto.com/the-choir/see-the-choir