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Watoto Beginning:In 1988, in a town called Luwero, I was changed. There amidst the banana plantations of a 79 year old widow who had outlived six of her seven children; there amidst the fruit stands where, with grim irony, vendors displayed rows of human skulls the same size as the pineapples scattered among them; there amidst this shocking spectacle of defiance and memory I was confronted by the type of naked reality that can not be ignored.Six years earlier I had moved with my family to Uganda, a country famous for violence and poverty. In Kampala, Uganda's battered capital, we had planted a Church we believed God would use to restore HOPE to a city, to a country whose supply was running desperately thin. Uganda's people had endured too much. Corrupt and oppressive rulers had waged ruthless war against the people, and when they were done with their slaughter nearly one million were dead. Luwero had been particularly ravaged by the wars that plagued Uganda for so long. But now with the accession to power of Yoweri Museveni a shaky peace prevailed and the first glimmers of HOPE began to emerge. We had planted a Church in the small town 100 kilometres north of Kampala, and this is why I had made my journey there. As we approached the town we began to pass the roadside stalls where villagers normally sold bananas, mangos and pineapples. With the war at an end, Luweero had begun to take stock of their losses and some people had converted these fruit stands into gruesome museums of death. Pineapples had been replaced with hundreds of human skulls. We stopped our car and I got out. As I held a skull in each hand my heart broke for the people of Uganda who had suffered in this way. But this was only the beginning. The pastor of Luwero's young Church took me to visit a widow in a nearby village. She was 79 years old and had mothered seven children. As we walked through the banana groves behind her small hut she began to point out the graves of her husband and six of her children. AIDS had killed them. Her last surviving child, a daughter, was dying of the same disease. Surrounded by her 23 grandchildren she pleaded in the way of a mother who has known the certainty of loss "I am an old woman and I can no longer dig. One day soon I will also die. Who then will look after my grandchildren?" Her voice assumed the resonance of a nation, a continent engaging the emerging reality of an impending devastation. Yes, AIDS has devastated Africa. So many have died. So many children have been left parentless and vulnerable. So many people have suffered and with each devastating loss Africa collectively implores, "Who then, will look after our children?" I was reminded of the verse in James 1:27 that says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widow in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." My visit with this woman in a simple Ugandan village was one of the defining moments of my life. Since then, through the generosity of people from around the world Watoto has given life and HOPE to many children. 'Villages of Hope' with homes, schools, and clinics have been built. Many people from Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the USA have sponsored children. Today more than 1,500 children have a hope and a future and are growing up in families that love and value them. Some of them have already moved on and are leading productive, independent lives. Many of them are attending university. And some are just beginning their new lives as members of our Watoto family. Thankyou for helping us look after the children.  Gary Skinner Watoto SolutionIn 1994 Kampala Pentecostal Church began rescuing orphans. Watoto was born out of the need to place parentless children into loving families. Through Watoto these children receive the message of Jesus Christ and His salvation, a spiritual awakening, an excellent education and a family. To date, Watoto has over 1500 children in holistic care and this number continues to grow yearly.Watoto is accomplishing its mission of raising Ugandan leaders by focusing on the essential needs of parentless children. The physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs of every child are a priority. Watoto takes in orphaned children below the age of 12 and places them in a loving family environment. The children remain a part of that family for life. We believe that as the children grow academically and spiritually they will enter society equipped with the necessary life skills and moral values that will enable them to make a significant and lasting impact on the future of Uganda. Watoto currently operates 3 children's villages and cares for over 1500 children. The villages include more than 130 homes, each accommodating 8 children and a mother who cares for them. They also contain a complete school system for the Watoto children and those in the surrounding communities, a medical clinic, a Church & community centre, an agricultural project providing food, a clean water source and electricity. These villages are self-sustaining communities that serve the children while also providing employment for women, teachers and steady jobs for laborers. StatisticsEvery day 43,000 children become orphans around the world.Nearly 11 million children die each year before their fifth birthday (World Hunger Facts). There are 60 million orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa due to HIV/AIDS, conflict and poverty. More than 30,000 children have been abducted & forced to serve as child soldiers in Uganda. (George Town Journal) In 2006, 2.9 million people died from AIDS, 2.1 million of those are in Sub-Saharan Africa. (Info Change Books and reports) In 2003 an estimated 12.3 % of all children in Sub-Saharan Africa were orphans. (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) 2 million Ugandans have been orphaned, 880,000* as a result of AIDS alone. (UNAIDS). OTHER WAR / AIDS RELATED WEBSITES Coalition to Stop the use of Child Soldiers AVERT UNAIDS War Child Elizabeth Glazer AIDS Foundation FAQWhat does the word Watoto mean?Watoto is the Swahili word for "children." What is Watoto? Watoto is a Church based organisation that cares for orphans and widows in Uganda. Our goal is to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders. How did Watoto begin? In 1994 Kampala Pentecostal Church began rescuing orphans. Watoto was born out of the need to place parentless children into loving families. Through Watoto, these children receive the message of Jesus Christ and His salvation, a spiritual awakening, an excellent education and a family. To date, Watoto has over 1500 children in holistic care and this number continues to grow yearly. 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. How does Watoto care for children? Watoto cares for children in 2 ways: Watoto places the most vulnerable children into new families. Each family consists of 8 children and a mother who cares for them. Watoto supports the living relatives of orphans such as grandparents, uncles or aunts, by ensuring the children receive food clothing and education while living under the protection of their own family. 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 and war. 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 fulfil their roles as mothers. Each mother is responsible for the daily care of 8 children. What are Children's 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. What is Watoto Gulu? Watoto's newest project is based in Northern Uganda's largest town, Gulu, where the Lord's Resistance Army has abducted more than 30,000 children. Watoto is setting up a children's village and a rehabilitation centre for children who are returning from rebel camps. Click here to find out more. What is "The Bulrushes"? The Bulrushes is a home for abandoned and orphaned babies in Kampala's city centre. Here infants under the age of 2 receive the special care they need before they move to one of Watoto's Children's Villages. Who are the Watoto Children's Choir? The Watoto Children's Choir travel internationally to help raise an understanding of the plight of Africa's orphans. Watoto's performances are a soulful blend of native African rhythms, contemporary gospel music and ethnic dance. During their concerts, audiences are encouraged to donate towards one Watoto's many projects in Uganda. How do I book the choir? To find out how you can book the choir to perform in your community please click here. How can I help Watoto? You can sponsor a child; book the Watoto Children's Choir for a performance in your community; make a donation or even visit Africa. Click here to find out more. What countries does Watoto operate in? All of the children in Watoto are from Uganda. We also operate offices in Australia, Canada, US and UK. Who makes decisions at Watoto? Watoto has a board of directors in each country it operates in. Additionally, an international board of directors oversees the policies that drive the day to day functioning of Watoto. These boards of directors are made up of individuals who are passionate about helping Watoto fulfil our goal of raising the next generation of Ugandan leaders. How can I sponsor a child? You can become a sponsor by clicking here. How can I make a donation? You can make a donation by clicking here. How do I book the choir? To find out how you can book the choir to perform in your community please click here. Can I visit Africa? Yes. Each year many people travel to Uganda to build houses, schools and clinics at Watoto's Children's Villages. It is simple to organise 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 click here. How can I promote Watoto in my community? You can promote Watoto in your community by booking the choir, or by organising a local fundraiser. Can I copy the Watoto model in my own country? Yes. Please click here to find out how. What is the Watoto Conference? Watoto Conference is an international event that aims to assist African pastors and community leaders to implement the Watoto model throughout the continent. The conference also helps to create partnerships between pastors in the West and their counterparts in Africa to address the continent's orphan crisis. In 2006 Watoto hosted it's first ever Watoto Conference. When is the next Watoto Conference? The next Watoto Conference is scheduled for 24th - 28th September 2008. To receive information on how to register please e-mail conference@watoto.com |
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