WWW.WATOTO.COM | WINTER 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. 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 both 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
ACHIEVERS
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 recognized her as a neighbor. 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
performing student at Hope Senior School, ranked among the best performing students in the 2014 was indeed an incredible country. Jonathan Muganzi at year. And the academic Hope Junior School achieved 5 excellence achieved by our students added to the jubilation. aggregates in 4 subjects, a pass The release of the 2014 Primary with several distinctions. As a result of these and other Leaving Examinations and Uganda Certificate Examinations performances, our primary school finished as the top school in brought Watoto such pride the district and our high school and joy. The students of our schools, Hope Junior School and finished as one of the top 10 schools in the district. Your Hope Senior School, performed faithful giving has contributed well beyond our expectations. to these accomplishments. Jeremiah Mutyaba, the best 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 counseling 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 Children’s Choirs this year. The allowance she makes as a trainee at our center 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 PLACE TO CALL HOME There’s no place like home. For many of us, home is where you belong, where you feel loved, and where you’re free to dream impossible dreams. But for many children in Uganda, home is hard to find. At the young age of 10, Edwin Kigozi and his brother found themselves without a home. Their mother had passed away from HIV, and they now had nowhere to belong. Both boys were soon brought into a Watoto village and given a second chance
at life. Edwin found a place where he was loved and cared for by his housemother and siblings. Watoto quickly became the place where he not only lived, but belonged. Watoto became home. Edwin’s life would forever change again after joining the Watoto Children’s Choir in 1998. “When I came to the United States for the first time, life started to make sense,” he said. As a now 13-yearold, traveling with the Watoto Children’s Choir showed Edwin
his incredible passion for music. He says, “I realized I could dream big.” Watoto had given him a home and belonging, and he was now free to dream big, perhaps of someday becoming a musician. That dreaming never stopped and today, at age 29, he is a drummer for Watoto Church’s worship band. He has also returned to the United States 16
years later as the Team Leader for Watoto Children’s Choir Tour 68. Edwin is now able to travel the world helping to spread the message of Watoto. He continues to share the powerful story of finding a home where he belonged, and shares with others how we all have a place we belong in God’s family.
Jonathan’s dream is to become a medical doctor, and Jeremiah wants to study food science and technology. “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.
CLOTHES OF COMPASSION Changing a life can start with just a needle and thread. Just ask 11-year-old Cora Coletti, who recently donated more than 500 articles of clothing to the children in Watoto’s Gulu Village. “It all started when we were invited by friends to see the choir perform at our church,” said Dawn Coletti, Cora’s mother. “We fell in love with the children and began to sponsor. Then one day our daughter Cora asked, ‘Why don’t we go to Africa?’ We began looking for mission trip opportunities, the fundraising followed, and God carried us the entire time to Uganda.” In 2013, the Coletti family spent 16 days at Watoto and it was there that Cora was inspired to do more. “Before we left for our trip, my
CARRYING ON FOR COLEMAN For many students, high school is all about spending time with friends, playing sports and trying to survive the next week’s biology exam. But for some, like Coleman Mitchell, it was all about making a difference. Coleman was a junior in high school when he first realized that God had called him to help care for the orphan and the widow. The Watoto Children’s Choir visited his church in Charlotte, N.C. and he instantly fell in love. “Our lives were changed after hosting five precious little boys and two very special uncles during that time,” said Angela Mitchell, Coleman’s mother. “Our son’s desire from then on was to travel to Uganda and visit the boys who stayed with us.”
grandma taught me how to make pillowcase dresses and when we got back, I decided I wanted to make them for the children of the village,” said Cora. “I made 235 dresses, 168 shorts and collected 142 shirts with the help of my friends. The clothes also include a tag of encouragement and love that we wrote. I was so thankful to God because I knew that not only our sponsor child Sandra, but the entire village would receive a new article of clothing.” The Colettis’ story and heart for Watoto is an inspiration to anyone who wants to make a difference and see life-change happen in the world around them. “Just do it,” says Cora. “It’s not every day that you can be in another country doing the work for God’s kingdom, but I know that when you put your heart to making a difference it really helps. Our whole family put our hearts into these dresses and it made me
Inspired by the positive spirit and the strength of the Watoto children, Coleman planned a trip to visit Uganda and to participate in Watoto3600 after graduating high school. However, before Coleman could fulfill the dream of visiting Watoto, his life was tragically cut short in April of 2013. Despite the loss of their child, the Mitchell family was determined to carry on Coleman’s passion for Watoto. “We are forced to navigate life in a way no parent or family should ever have to know,” says Mitchell. “But we are thrilled to know that the heart of our son will forever be present in the lives of others through this event held in honor of our Coleman.” The Coleman’s Camo 5K event,
change my perspective on life. Before we went to Uganda, I was selfish and since we returned, I haven’t wanted to stop helping.” God used a needle, thread and
held last May, raised more than $50,000 to help build a home in Watoto’s Gulu Village. “We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of the runners and support,” said Mitchell. “We plan on continuing to honor Coleman’s love for Watoto by sponsoring a mother and children who will live in that home. We are just so grateful to give to Watoto, a place where our son’s heart will always be, even though his feet will never go.” Coleman’s story teaches all of us that we can make a difference. Watoto is honored by the kindness of the Mitchell family, as well as so many others who have a heart to serve faithfully to bring life to the hurting in Uganda.
Cora’s dream in a big way to change the lives of hundreds of children in Africa and He can do the same through you.
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