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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 Gods 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 Watotos 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_US.indd 1 3/28/14 10:18 AM
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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. Everyones 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 Johns. 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 Hopes 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 Watotos Suubi Village.
The ceremony was filled with
jubilation and hope as the
students celebrated and couldnt
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 Watotos 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.
Watotos 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 INCREASEThank 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.
Inspire the hearts of children with our new, easy-to-use, multi-media Watoto childrens curriculum called We Can Change A Story! Children in grades K-5 will love exploring the country of Uganda through video, animal sounds and coloring sheets. Most importantly, theyll learn about Gods heart for the orphan. Theyll also learn about
how God can use them to help change the outcome of an orphaned childs story.
Children will have the opportunity to color and assemble their very own piggy banks and collect coins or dollars for Watoto. Piggy bank kits are provided free-of-cost. At the end of the fundraiser Watoto will send your class a set of stickers for a
job well done!An excellent tool for vacation
Bible school, childrens ministry departments and schools! To download the curriculum and order your kit visit www.watotoandyou.com/getinvolved
An excellent tool for vacation Bible school, childrens ministry departments and schools!
We Can Change A StoryCHILDRENS CURRICULUM AND PIGGY BANK FUNDRAISER
At the age of nine, Rhodes Jackson learned about Watoto and the Gulu Childrens Village from his aunt and uncle who had just returned from a mission trip to Watoto.
Rhodes was particularly struck by the fact that his aunt and uncle had mentioned that the medical clinic was lacking clinic beds and that some patients had to be examined sitting up in chairs. Rhodes was also blown away by the photo of the library that had very few books, said his mom Melanie.
Being the determined and tender-hearted little boy that Rhodes is, he decided he wouldnt let small things like age or money get in the way of meeting those needs! He decided he would raise the money to purchase books and beds through the Books and Beds fundraiser!
With the help of his parents, Rhodes reached out to a number of people in different ways.
In just six weeks, Rhodes had surpassed his fundraising goal and so was able to channel the rest of the funds towards purchasing Truvada, an important drug for children with Hepatitis B.
We truly believe his little heart was called to raise funds for this very project at this very time, said Melanie.
Watoto is so thankful for Rhodes and his loving heart. We pray other children will be inspired by Rhodes to know that God can also use them to make a difference.
Bedtime Prayers for Watoto
Third Grader Hears Gods Call to Help
My children attend Lamb of
God school but unfortunately
last year we missed the Watoto
Childrens Choir. After that show,
my daughters teacher played the
music in her class and everyday
my 4-year-old daughter, Ava,
would come from school singing
Beautiful Africa. She kept asking
me to get the music but since
I had no idea of what she was
talking about, I asked her teacher
who told me about Watoto:
Beautiful Africa. This prompted
me to download the album off
iTunes.
Every night before Ava went to
bed after she said her prayers,she
would say, mommy, please take
me to Africa to see Watoto.
After weeks of Ava asking me to
take her to Africa to see Watoto
and with the music and the
story behind it drawing me in,
I searched the Watoto website
for when they would be close
to Houston again and found the
closest was Austin. I told Ava we
would be going to Austin to see
Watoto. Then her nightly request
became mommy, please take me
to Austin to see Watoto.
Though I was stressed about
having to drive the 174 miles to
and from Austin with the girls,
I didnt care because this was
important to the three of us.
As the choir performed Ava
jumped up in the isle and started
dancing in sync with the Watoto
choir. She had watched several
of the videos on YouTube and
had learned the Watoto childrens
choir dance routines. I purchased
quite a few items after the show
in support but my goal is to do
more. I read the childrens book
at night to my daughters Ava and
Ayanna at bedtime. Avas night
time prayers have consisted of a
prayer for the children of Watoto
every night since we left the
show.
Watoto, Im glad my girls look
up to you; youre the true heroes.
Lystra McCoy
Bed Time Prayers for Watoto
Newsletter_mar'14_US.indd 2-3 3/28/14 10:18 AM
-
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. Everyones 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 Johns. 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 Hopes 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 Watotos Suubi Village.
The ceremony was filled with
jubilation and hope as the
students celebrated and couldnt
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 Watotos 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.
Watotos 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 INCREASEThank 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.
Inspire the hearts of children with our new, easy-to-use, multi-media Watoto childrens curriculum called We Can Change A Story! Children in grades K-5 will love exploring the country of Uganda through video, animal sounds and coloring sheets. Most importantly, theyll learn about Gods heart for the orphan. Theyll also learn about
how God can use them to help change the outcome of an orphaned childs story.
Children will have the opportunity to color and assemble their very own piggy banks and collect coins or dollars for Watoto. Piggy bank kits are provided free-of-cost. At the end of the fundraiser Watoto will send your class a set of stickers for a
job well done!An excellent tool for vacation
Bible school, childrens ministry departments and schools! To download the curriculum and order your kit visit www.watotoandyou.com/getinvolved
An excellent tool for vacation Bible school, childrens ministry departments and schools!
We Can Change A StoryCHILDRENS CURRICULUM AND PIGGY BANK FUNDRAISER
At the age of nine, Rhodes Jackson learned about Watoto and the Gulu Childrens Village from his aunt and uncle who had just returned from a mission trip to Watoto.
Rhodes was particularly struck by the fact that his aunt and uncle had mentioned that the medical clinic was lacking clinic beds and that some patients had to be examined sitting up in chairs. Rhodes was also blown away by the photo of the library that had very few books, said his mom Melanie.
Being the determined and tender-hearted little boy that Rhodes is, he decided he wouldnt let small things like age or money get in the way of meeting those needs! He decided he would raise the money to purchase books and beds through the Books and Beds fundraiser!
With the help of his parents, Rhodes reached out to a number of people in different ways.
In just six weeks, Rhodes had surpassed his fundraising goal and so was able to channel the rest of the funds towards purchasing Truvada, an important drug for children with Hepatitis B.
We truly believe his little heart was called to raise funds for this very project at this very time, said Melanie.
Watoto is so thankful for Rhodes and his loving heart. We pray other children will be inspired by Rhodes to know that God can also use them to make a difference.
Bedtime Prayers for Watoto
Third Grader Hears Gods Call to Help
My children attend Lamb of
God school but unfortunately
last year we missed the Watoto
Childrens Choir. After that show,
my daughters teacher played the
music in her class and everyday
my 4-year-old daughter, Ava,
would come from school singing
Beautiful Africa. She kept asking
me to get the music but since
I had no idea of what she was
talking about, I asked her teacher
who told me about Watoto:
Beautiful Africa. This prompted
me to download the album off
iTunes.
Every night before Ava went to
bed after she said her prayers,she
would say, mommy, please take
me to Africa to see Watoto.
After weeks of Ava asking me to
take her to Africa to see Watoto
and with the music and the
story behind it drawing me in,
I searched the Watoto website
for when they would be close
to Houston again and found the
closest was Austin. I told Ava we
would be going to Austin to see
Watoto. Then her nightly request
became mommy, please take me
to Austin to see Watoto.
Though I was stressed about
having to drive the 174 miles to
and from Austin with the girls,
I didnt care because this was
important to the three of us.
As the choir performed Ava
jumped up in the isle and started
dancing in sync with the Watoto
choir. She had watched several
of the videos on YouTube and
had learned the Watoto childrens
choir dance routines. I purchased
quite a few items after the show
in support but my goal is to do
more. I read the childrens book
at night to my daughters Ava and
Ayanna at bedtime. Avas night
time prayers have consisted of a
prayer for the children of Watoto
every night since we left the
show.
Watoto, Im glad my girls look
up to you; youre the true heroes.
Lystra McCoy
Bed Time Prayers for Watoto
Newsletter_mar'14_US.indd 2-3 3/28/14 10:18 AM
-
WATOTO USAPO BOX 1320LUTZ, FLORIDA33548-1320
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 mothers 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 MOTHERS DAY
Newsletter_mar'14_US.indd 4 3/28/14 10:18 AM