WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION

WWW.WATOTO.COM | OCTOBER 2014 | ISSUE NO.3

Watoto is thrilled to bring

you a brand new production,

Oh What Love, beginning

officially in January 2015,

and April 2015 in Australia.

Through this dynamic worship

experience, the Watoto

Children’s Choir, who were once

orphans, share their journey to

redemption and demonstrate

that God desires to be a loving

father to all mankind.

“After losing my parents I

felt lonely, with no one to love

me. Now I know that God is my

father, and He loves and cares

for me. In the choir, I am going

to show people that God loves

them too” says six year old

Jackie Nakku.

Based on the Bible verse

1 John 3:1 “See what kind

of love the father has given

us, that we should be called

children of God, and so we

are,” prepare for a unique

worship experience that blends

traditional and modern dance

with original music. Oh What

Love celebrates the urban

African landscape and brings

out the unique personalities of

the children.

Since 1994, Watoto Children’s

Choirs have traveled all over

the world sharing the plight

of Africa’s orphaned and

vulnerable, making an appeal to

help raise these children so that

they can rebuild their nation.

Each of the children in the choir

has suffered the loss of one or

both of their parents but have

been rescued and now live in a

Watoto village.

If your church or community

group is interested in hosting

the choir please contact us at

choirau@watoto.com.

Newsletter_OCT'14_AU.indd 1 10/27/14 5:13 PM

A FUTURE SO BRIGHTJuliet ran her fingers over the

wheel of her tailoring machine,

admiring its contours. She

shifted the weight of her feet

over the pedals and listened to

them falling into rhythm. The

machine was a gift from her

husband’s grandmother on the

day she gave birth to her first

child. It became one of her most

valuable possessions. She stared

at the machine with a faint ache

in her heart, wishing she had the

skills to use it.

When Juliet met her husband,

she was searching for a

home. Her father had stopped

supporting her and she was

forced to drop out of school.

When she tried to move in with

her mother, she was rejected.

She saw marriage as an escape;

an opportunity.

Juliet was twenty-one

when she sat at a maternity

ward holding the results of

her routine HIV test. She was

pregnant with her first child.

She was shocked when she read

that she was positive, but her

husband seemed unfazed. Juliet

wondered if he’d always known,

but she didn’t ask him any

questions. She couldn’t afford to

lose another home.

Seven years later, he

abandoned her and she was left

to look after their two children

on her own. She managed to

support herself by helping her

sister braid hair, but work was

irregular and she never had

enough. She worried when

a child showed any sign of

sickness because she couldn’t

buy medicine. She knew that

soon her eldest would be old

enough to start school, but she

wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Juliet heard of Living Hope

from other women in the

community. “I knew that if I was

given the chance, I could also

become an empowered woman”

she said.

Last month Juliet and five

other women were called to

be trained in tailoring at our

workshop in Kampala. In just

three weeks, she went from

learning to run the machine and

making basic stitches, to learning

how to make a dress. “I hope

to be a tailor and to grow so

that I don’t need to depend

on my family” she said.

If you would like to help

empower women like Juliet

you can partner with us by

visiting www.watoto.com/livinghope.

This past quarter, a number

of our Baby Watoto Suubi

toddlers graduated into

our villages. Many of these

abandoned babies joined

the Watoto family severely

malnourished, premature,

abused, and/or neglected.

They are now cherished,

active, creative toddlers

filled with hope and joy.

It is amazing to watch

their transformation and

we celebrate this exciting

milestone in their lives.

For a number of years, we

have been praying about and

discussing the best long term

plans for our children with

significant special needs.

SPECIAL MOVE

Over the past few months,

we have established a

partnership with a new Christian

organisation in Kampala, The

Gem Foundation. They specialise

in caring for children with

significant special needs well into

their adulthood.

We are excited by what

this organisation is doing and

believe that this is the best

option for some of our children

with special needs who have

outgrown Baby Watoto. The

first group of children moved

from Baby Watoto Kampala to

The Gem Foundation in August.

We believe that this is a great

opportunity for our children and

are excited to continue to watch

them grow and develop.

Partner with us by sponsoring

Baby Watoto at www.watoto.com/sponsorship today.

This month Choir 66 wrapped

up their tour of Australia and

New Zealand and we farewelled

them as they returned to

Uganda.

The tour was a huge success.

We have seen hundreds

of people sign up for child

sponsorship and funds raised

to send to Uganda to continue

the good work of Watoto. The

highlight of tour was seeing

people realise the love of Jesus.

Corporate partnerships are

invaluable to Watoto Australia.

The generosity of organisations

around the country plays an

integral role in the transformation

happening in Uganda and

enables us to provide support

that is above and beyond what

is covered through monthly

sponsorship. We are committed

to building strong relationships

with our corporate partners and

as such, this year we hosted

our Annual Gala Fundraising

events in Sydney and Melbourne.

These events allow us to raise

awareness of the work Watoto

is doing in Uganda, strengthen

relationships and create new

connections within the corporate

sector.

Both nights were an

outstanding success and we

CORPORATE GALA

The inaugural Watoto AU

Sponsorship Team recently

returned home after spending

14 days visiting Watoto villages,

projects and sponsored

individuals in Uganda. Of the

team of 18, most had never met

their sponsor mothers or children

and could not imagine the

overwhelming joy in doing so.

On their second day in

Uganda, sponsors David and

Carmel Schubert met Mama

Kurusum and shared a meal

with her in a Watoto village. It

was a touching occasion and

the couple remarked, “What a

wonderful surprise and blessing

to meet our sponsor mother. We

have been sponsoring her for

five years and Kurusum always

corresponds as our sister in

Christ. We would recommend

anyone sponsor a mum as they

are the key to Watoto families.”

Another sponsor, Lauren

Roberts, volunteered at Baby

Watoto Kampala in 2013, and

cared for children and toddlers

with special needs. Before

returning home, she decided to

sponsor a child. Reflecting on

her experience she said, “The

children stole my heart while I

was there so that’s why I decided

to sponsor a child with special

needs. Meeting Julius on the

sponsorship trip this year was

overwhelming. It was great to

see that he is healthy and well.

Julius gives me a completely

new perspective on things.

Sponsorship is not just a debit

from my account every month.

I know it is changing a life. I am

looking forward to him being a

future leader of Uganda.”

We are taking enquiries for the

2015 Sponsorship Trip and invite

you to be a part of the team!

The experience includes (but

is not limited to) multiple visits

with sponsored individuals, Baby

Watoto and Living Hope; guided

tours of Watoto’s sustainability

projects; a cultural performance,

and a safari at Murchison Falls

National Park.

CHOIR 66

COME WITH US TO BEAUTIFUL AFRICA

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD CHALLENGE

Thank you to everyone who

came to see us perform and

to all the generous churches,

community groups and families

who hosted us along the way. We

would like to thank our amazing

volunteers who drove the team

bus and truck throughout tour,

and thank you to Uncle Bryan

who did an incredible job of

leading the team. Our 22 Watoto

children, and future leaders of

Uganda, have experienced the

opportunity of a lifetime and

their lives will never be the same.

had an overwhelmingly positive

response from everyone who

attended. Our guests enjoyed a

high class evening of good food

and spectacular entertainment

by the Watoto Children’s Choir.

There were lots of laughs as our

choir adults took to the stage

to host the live auction and

we were touched as Watoto

Australia ambassador Silvie

Paladino presented a snapshot of

the Watoto projects and blessed

us with her beautiful voice.

With close to 400 people in

attendance we were able to raise

over $22,000. We are thankful

for everyone who attended and

for those who thoughtfully and

generously gave. Together we

are helping make the vision of

Watoto a reality.

Watoto Australia is excited

to be participating in the

25000 Spins Great Ocean Road

Challenge in February 2015. This

three day cycling tour is a great

opportunity for riders of all levels

to enjoy the stunning scenery of

Australia, while doing something

incredible for a cause you love.

If you are interested in riding for

Watoto we would love to have

you as part of the team. For

more information please contact

mediaau@watoto.com.

Newsletter_OCT'14_AU.indd 2-3 10/27/14 5:14 PM

A FUTURE SO BRIGHTJuliet ran her fingers over the

wheel of her tailoring machine,

admiring its contours. She

shifted the weight of her feet

over the pedals and listened to

them falling into rhythm. The

machine was a gift from her

husband’s grandmother on the

day she gave birth to her first

child. It became one of her most

valuable possessions. She stared

at the machine with a faint ache

in her heart, wishing she had the

skills to use it.

When Juliet met her husband,

she was searching for a

home. Her father had stopped

supporting her and she was

forced to drop out of school.

When she tried to move in with

her mother, she was rejected.

She saw marriage as an escape;

an opportunity.

Juliet was twenty-one

when she sat at a maternity

ward holding the results of

her routine HIV test. She was

pregnant with her first child.

She was shocked when she read

that she was positive, but her

husband seemed unfazed. Juliet

wondered if he’d always known,

but she didn’t ask him any

questions. She couldn’t afford to

lose another home.

Seven years later, he

abandoned her and she was left

to look after their two children

on her own. She managed to

support herself by helping her

sister braid hair, but work was

irregular and she never had

enough. She worried when

a child showed any sign of

sickness because she couldn’t

buy medicine. She knew that

soon her eldest would be old

enough to start school, but she

wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Juliet heard of Living Hope

from other women in the

community. “I knew that if I was

given the chance, I could also

become an empowered woman”

she said.

Last month Juliet and five

other women were called to

be trained in tailoring at our

workshop in Kampala. In just

three weeks, she went from

learning to run the machine and

making basic stitches, to learning

how to make a dress. “I hope

to be a tailor and to grow so

that I don’t need to depend

on my family” she said.

If you would like to help

empower women like Juliet

you can partner with us by

visiting www.watoto.com/livinghope.

This past quarter, a number

of our Baby Watoto Suubi

toddlers graduated into

our villages. Many of these

abandoned babies joined

the Watoto family severely

malnourished, premature,

abused, and/or neglected.

They are now cherished,

active, creative toddlers

filled with hope and joy.

It is amazing to watch

their transformation and

we celebrate this exciting

milestone in their lives.

For a number of years, we

have been praying about and

discussing the best long term

plans for our children with

significant special needs.

SPECIAL MOVE

Over the past few months,

we have established a

partnership with a new Christian

organisation in Kampala, The

Gem Foundation. They specialise

in caring for children with

significant special needs well into

their adulthood.

We are excited by what

this organisation is doing and

believe that this is the best

option for some of our children

with special needs who have

outgrown Baby Watoto. The

first group of children moved

from Baby Watoto Kampala to

The Gem Foundation in August.

We believe that this is a great

opportunity for our children and

are excited to continue to watch

them grow and develop.

Partner with us by sponsoring

Baby Watoto at www.watoto.com/sponsorship today.

This month Choir 66 wrapped

up their tour of Australia and

New Zealand and we farewelled

them as they returned to

Uganda.

The tour was a huge success.

We have seen hundreds

of people sign up for child

sponsorship and funds raised

to send to Uganda to continue

the good work of Watoto. The

highlight of tour was seeing

people realise the love of Jesus.

Corporate partnerships are

invaluable to Watoto Australia.

The generosity of organisations

around the country plays an

integral role in the transformation

happening in Uganda and

enables us to provide support

that is above and beyond what

is covered through monthly

sponsorship. We are committed

to building strong relationships

with our corporate partners and

as such, this year we hosted

our Annual Gala Fundraising

events in Sydney and Melbourne.

These events allow us to raise

awareness of the work Watoto

is doing in Uganda, strengthen

relationships and create new

connections within the corporate

sector.

Both nights were an

outstanding success and we

CORPORATE GALA

The inaugural Watoto AU

Sponsorship Team recently

returned home after spending

14 days visiting Watoto villages,

projects and sponsored

individuals in Uganda. Of the

team of 18, most had never met

their sponsor mothers or children

and could not imagine the

overwhelming joy in doing so.

On their second day in

Uganda, sponsors David and

Carmel Schubert met Mama

Kurusum and shared a meal

with her in a Watoto village. It

was a touching occasion and

the couple remarked, “What a

wonderful surprise and blessing

to meet our sponsor mother. We

have been sponsoring her for

five years and Kurusum always

corresponds as our sister in

Christ. We would recommend

anyone sponsor a mum as they

are the key to Watoto families.”

Another sponsor, Lauren

Roberts, volunteered at Baby

Watoto Kampala in 2013, and

cared for children and toddlers

with special needs. Before

returning home, she decided to

sponsor a child. Reflecting on

her experience she said, “The

children stole my heart while I

was there so that’s why I decided

to sponsor a child with special

needs. Meeting Julius on the

sponsorship trip this year was

overwhelming. It was great to

see that he is healthy and well.

Julius gives me a completely

new perspective on things.

Sponsorship is not just a debit

from my account every month.

I know it is changing a life. I am

looking forward to him being a

future leader of Uganda.”

We are taking enquiries for the

2015 Sponsorship Trip and invite

you to be a part of the team!

The experience includes (but

is not limited to) multiple visits

with sponsored individuals, Baby

Watoto and Living Hope; guided

tours of Watoto’s sustainability

projects; a cultural performance,

and a safari at Murchison Falls

National Park.

CHOIR 66

COME WITH US TO BEAUTIFUL AFRICA

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD CHALLENGE

Thank you to everyone who

came to see us perform and

to all the generous churches,

community groups and families

who hosted us along the way. We

would like to thank our amazing

volunteers who drove the team

bus and truck throughout tour,

and thank you to Uncle Bryan

who did an incredible job of

leading the team. Our 22 Watoto

children, and future leaders of

Uganda, have experienced the

opportunity of a lifetime and

their lives will never be the same.

had an overwhelmingly positive

response from everyone who

attended. Our guests enjoyed a

high class evening of good food

and spectacular entertainment

by the Watoto Children’s Choir.

There were lots of laughs as our

choir adults took to the stage

to host the live auction and

we were touched as Watoto

Australia ambassador Silvie

Paladino presented a snapshot of

the Watoto projects and blessed

us with her beautiful voice.

With close to 400 people in

attendance we were able to raise

over $22,000. We are thankful

for everyone who attended and

for those who thoughtfully and

generously gave. Together we

are helping make the vision of

Watoto a reality.

Watoto Australia is excited

to be participating in the

25000 Spins Great Ocean Road

Challenge in February 2015. This

three day cycling tour is a great

opportunity for riders of all levels

to enjoy the stunning scenery of

Australia, while doing something

incredible for a cause you love.

If you are interested in riding for

Watoto we would love to have

you as part of the team. For

more information please contact

mediaau@watoto.com.

Newsletter_OCT'14_AU.indd 2-3 10/27/14 5:14 PM

WATOTO AUSTRALIAPO BOX 782SPRINGWOOD, QLD 4127 (07) 3208 3500AUSTRALIA@WATOTO.COM

Global Development Group (ABN 57 102 400 993), a DFAT approved NGO, is proud to be a partner of Watoto Child Care Ministries Australia and responsible for aid & development projects J210, J329, J416 according to DFAT guidelines.

YOU ARE INVITED TO COME ON THE

Have you considered meeting your sponsor child, mother or teacher? Seeing the precious babies and toddlers at Baby Watoto? Hearing firsthand stories from Living Hope? One of our supporters, Hannah, did just that! She shared:

Watoto Australia is organising a two week trip for current sponsors to visit Watoto in September 2014! With a key member of our staff leading the tour, we will be visiting Watoto villages, projects and sponsored individuals, as well as the option of a safari, white water rafting or cruise on the Nile!

For more information please contact our Visit Watoto Coordinator

Dennis Brown at australia@watoto.com or 07 3208 3500.

“I feel like what I gained from my trip can never be measured in money or time. Through a beautiful exchange i became a part of two new families, have a photo album full of photos that reflect the trip of a lifetime and so many memories that can take me back to Uganda anytime I want!”

TRIP OF A LIFETIME!

Newsletter_OCT'14_AU.indd 4 10/27/14 5:14 PM