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WWW.WATOTO.COM | MARCH 2014 | ISSUE NO.1
One Amazing God
T H E F U T U R E I S N O W
YOU ARE INVITED
WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
WATOTO BIG PARTYThis year, Watoto celebrates
30 years of God’s faithfulness in
Uganda. From June 1 to June 8,
2014. Gary and Marilyn Skinner
will host a Big Party in Kampala
to commemorate the occasion.
“We are having a big party
because we want Jesus to be
famous for the good things
He has done in Africa. I am so
thankful for all of the individuals,
teams, churches and other
groups around the world that
have been involved in so many
ways, helping us make all of
this happen. God bless you,”
comments Gary Skinner, Watoto
Founder.
Currently, Watoto cares for
almost 3,000 children in three
self-contained villages and three
Baby Watoto facilities across
Kampala and Gulu, Uganda.
George Akankwasa, one
of the first students of Hope
Senior School in Watoto’s Bbira
Village says, “I have seen Watoto
grow tremendously from one
classroom block to over 10; from
four clusters of nine homes
per cluster, to over 15 clusters;
and from us doing only indoor
games to outdoor facilities for
various activities. We need to
celebrate and thank God for all
He has done for us, and what He
Newsletter_mar'14_UG.indd 1 4/14/14 5:05 PM
is still doing.”
In the lead-up to the Big Party,
we are launching an exciting
challenge for people to do
something extraordinary, which
in turn will help raise awareness
and funds for Watoto. This is your
chance to make a difference and
to share your passion for Watoto
with others. Everyone’s challenge
will look different.
Watoto friend, John Burns,
from Relate Church Canada is
pushing his physical and mental
boundaries to run 200 holes of
golf in 24 Hours. He hopes to
raise $5 million for Watoto. Tell us
what your challenge will be. Log
on to www.manup4watoto.com
and start a challenge of your own,
or support John’s. Every effort
helps to transform the lives of
vulnerable women and children in
Africa.
For more information on
how to be involved in the Big
Party, please log onto www.watotochurch.com/bigparty.
A HELPING HANDIn February, Living Hope
community workers began
interviewing women who were
isolated, and struggling, both
financially and emotionally. We
hope to enlist 380 new ladies in
the program this year.
“When I hear their stories, I
realize how much they need to
be in the program,” says Hannah
Atim, a community worker.
Living Hope graduates like
Monica, who are now community
leaders, are helping us identify
and enlist new women. In 2005
when Monica was pregnant
she discovered that she was
HIV positive. She used to make
money by selling liquor, but this
was not enough to support her
five children. “Living Hope found
me when I was not doing well.
I thought I was dumped and
forgotten, but at Living Hope
I found joy and hope. I found
others who are like me, and
people who love me,” she said.
Monica, who works in our
jewelry department, is now one of
Living Hope’s community leaders.
She often visits other HIV positive
women to share her story, pray
for them and remind them to look
after themselves.
Living Hope empowers women
so that they can walk alongside
others who are in need of
support. They learn that their
stories have power to inspire
others and to change lives. By
helping women like Monica
engage in their communities, we
are able to infiltrate the most
impoverished neighbourhoods
and embrace others who are still
in desperate need of help.
This year we have framed
our program around three
words that we feel capture our
mission: Embrace, Empower and
Engage. We embrace women by
caring for their basic needs. We
empower them by developing
their life skills and we engage
them with the community by
helping them become successful
businesswomen and pillars of
influence.
Follow the progress at www.watoto.com/livinghope and
encourage others to partner with
us today.
Vocational Students Graduation
On December 4, 2013, 38
Watoto students graduated from
the Vocational School at Watoto’s
Suubi Village. The ceremony was
filled with jubilation and hope
as the students celebrated and
couldn’t wait to start their careers.
21-year-old Dodovico Nsereko,
who graduated as an electrical
installation engineer, believes that
choosing vocational studies was
the best decision he ever made.
“The practical lessons allowed
me to gain valuable skills that
helped me excel while I was a
student. I am excited about the
future,” says Dodovico.
He is currently working at one of
Watoto’s sustainability
projects as an electrical
installation engineer, where he is
convinced that he is gaining the
hands-on skills he needs to start
up his own business.
Watoto’s objective is to
rebuild the nation by raising
African leaders in every sector of
influence in society. We want to
celebrate empowered graduates
like Dodovico and thank all our
partners for their contribution to
this effort.
There are many children like
Dodovico, who need someone
to come alongside them to help
them pursue their dreams. Be that
support and encourage others to
do the same
www.watoto.com/sponsorship.
SPONSORSHIP INCREASE
Thank you to each and every
sponsor who chose to share a
portion of the increased costs
of care by raising your support
by $3 a month to ensure that we
can continue to provide quality,
holistic care for our babies,
children and mothers. We never
initiate such changes lightly and
appreciate your commitment and
generosity. With your ongoing
prayer and financial support, we
are able to continue to move
forward in the work that we do
in Uganda. We cannot say “thank
you” enough for your ongoing
sponsorship support.
Newsletter_mar'14_UG.indd 2-3 4/14/14 5:06 PM
is still doing.”
In the lead-up to the Big Party,
we are launching an exciting
challenge for people to do
something extraordinary, which
in turn will help raise awareness
and funds for Watoto. This is your
chance to make a difference and
to share your passion for Watoto
with others. Everyone’s challenge
will look different.
Watoto friend, John Burns,
from Relate Church Canada is
pushing his physical and mental
boundaries to run 200 holes of
golf in 24 Hours. He hopes to
raise $5 million for Watoto. Tell us
what your challenge will be. Log
on to www.manup4watoto.com
and start a challenge of your own,
or support John’s. Every effort
helps to transform the lives of
vulnerable women and children in
Africa.
For more information on
how to be involved in the Big
Party, please log onto www.watotochurch.com/bigparty.
A HELPING HANDIn February, Living Hope
community workers began
interviewing women who were
isolated, and struggling, both
financially and emotionally. We
hope to enlist 380 new ladies in
the program this year.
“When I hear their stories, I
realize how much they need to
be in the program,” says Hannah
Atim, a community worker.
Living Hope graduates like
Monica, who are now community
leaders, are helping us identify
and enlist new women. In 2005
when Monica was pregnant
she discovered that she was
HIV positive. She used to make
money by selling liquor, but this
was not enough to support her
five children. “Living Hope found
me when I was not doing well.
I thought I was dumped and
forgotten, but at Living Hope
I found joy and hope. I found
others who are like me, and
people who love me,” she said.
Monica, who works in our
jewelry department, is now one of
Living Hope’s community leaders.
She often visits other HIV positive
women to share her story, pray
for them and remind them to look
after themselves.
Living Hope empowers women
so that they can walk alongside
others who are in need of
support. They learn that their
stories have power to inspire
others and to change lives. By
helping women like Monica
engage in their communities, we
are able to infiltrate the most
impoverished neighbourhoods
and embrace others who are still
in desperate need of help.
This year we have framed
our program around three
words that we feel capture our
mission: Embrace, Empower and
Engage. We embrace women by
caring for their basic needs. We
empower them by developing
their life skills and we engage
them with the community by
helping them become successful
businesswomen and pillars of
influence.
Follow the progress at www.watoto.com/livinghope and
encourage others to partner with
us today.
Vocational Students Graduation
On December 4, 2013, 38
Watoto students graduated from
the Vocational School at Watoto’s
Suubi Village. The ceremony was
filled with jubilation and hope
as the students celebrated and
couldn’t wait to start their careers.
21-year-old Dodovico Nsereko,
who graduated as an electrical
installation engineer, believes that
choosing vocational studies was
the best decision he ever made.
“The practical lessons allowed
me to gain valuable skills that
helped me excel while I was a
student. I am excited about the
future,” says Dodovico.
He is currently working at one of
Watoto’s sustainability
projects as an electrical
installation engineer, where he is
convinced that he is gaining the
hands-on skills he needs to start
up his own business.
Watoto’s objective is to
rebuild the nation by raising
African leaders in every sector of
influence in society. We want to
celebrate empowered graduates
like Dodovico and thank all our
partners for their contribution to
this effort.
There are many children like
Dodovico, who need someone
to come alongside them to help
them pursue their dreams. Be that
support and encourage others to
do the same
www.watoto.com/sponsorship.
SPONSORSHIP INCREASE
Thank you to each and every
sponsor who chose to share a
portion of the increased costs
of care by raising your support
by $3 a month to ensure that we
can continue to provide quality,
holistic care for our babies,
children and mothers. We never
initiate such changes lightly and
appreciate your commitment and
generosity. With your ongoing
prayer and financial support, we
are able to continue to move
forward in the work that we do
in Uganda. We cannot say “thank
you” enough for your ongoing
sponsorship support.
Newsletter_mar'14_UG.indd 2-3 4/14/14 5:06 PM
WATOTO UGANDAPO Box 26366. Kampala Uganda Phone: +256 (0)414 697 003 Email: uganda@watoto.com
“I am proud to be a mother. I
have seen the blessing of the Lord
and His power at work in my life. I
am blessed,” Mama Miriam Nakirya,
a Watoto mother.
“I am humbled by my mother’s
love and dedication to this ministry.
I am what I am because of her
loving guidance and direction.”
Joseph Sebayiga
www.watoto.com/sponsorship
SPONSOR A WATOTO MOTHER THIS MOTHER’S DAY
Newsletter_mar'14_UG.indd 4 4/14/14 5:06 PM