WWW.WATOTO.COM | OCTOBER 2013 | ISSUE NO. 3

WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION

continued on pg. 2

INTO THE FUTURE

When Sunday Okello decided to volunteer at the Luube Sustainability project, he had no idea how much he would learn by just offering his time. The 23-year-old former child soldier declares that his sole motivation for volunteering is to give back to, and appreciate Watoto for choosing to invest in his life. “My experience at the Lubbe farm has been amazing. I have learnt so much, including how to grow a variety of crops and drive a tractor. It’s also given me the opportunity to learn all the skills I need to manage a successful agricultural project.”

continued from pg. 1Okello was 13 when he first

encountered the rebel soldiers in northern Uganda - an incident that separated his family. His younger brother was abducted and the rest of the family relocated to Onyama Internally Displaced Camp in Gulu town. The rebels often targetted this camp to abduct boys and girls that they used as soldiers and wives.

The rampant attacks forced Okello and his family to commute every evening to Gulu town to seek shelter on verandas of buildings.

One day, Okello’s father suggested that they spend the night at home since the rebels hadn’t raided the camp for a while. The rebels struck with full force that evening.

Okello, his brother and about 70 children were abducted from the camp. They walked north for many hours and their initiation into the rebel movement was to be beaten with a wooden stick 150 times.

He spent two months in

Uganda and was later forced to walk 500 km to Sudan where he came face to face with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel leader, Joseph Kony.

Two months later, the rebel leader commanded the regiment to return to Uganda to stock up on ammunition, food and soldiers. 10 km from the Sudanese border, the rebels encountered a fire exchange with the Ugandan Government soldiers for over 7 hours. Many lives were lost, but they escaped.

Once in Uganda, their job was to abduct more children and loot food. It was during this mission that Okello escaped. He was rescued by Ugandan Government soldiers who enrolled him for trauma counselling at the Gulu Support the Children Organisation (GUSCO), now Watoto’s Living Hope Centre in Gulu.

After four months of intensive counselling, Okello decided to go to school, but didn’t have any money.

Just as he was about to give

up, a team from Watoto led by co-founder Marilyn Skinner, visited the camp. Okello joined the Watoto family soon after. “I was amazed by the opportunities that opened up. I was enrolled into the best secondary school in Gulu because the Watoto School hadn’t opened up in northern Uganda at the time.”

After finishing high school, he completed a certificate in Crop Production and Animal Management. Okello also participated in the Watoto3600 discipleship program and offered to volunteer with the Watoto Sustainability project.

“I have learnt so much by working at the Lubbe farm. It has literally opened the door to my dreams. I have already started a farmers’ association in partnership with some of my former college mates and I have dreams of running farming projects in northern Uganda and exporting product,” says Okello.

Change a story. Sponsor a child at www.watoto.com/sponsorship.

Eight former Watoto chil-dren graduated from various universities around Uganda in July 2013.

Each of them excelled in their respective fields, includ-ing Business, Law, Finance, Fashion & Design, Develop-ment Studies, Science and Information Technology.

The Education Depart-ment of Watoto organised a joyous event to celebrate the achievements of the gradu-ates.

Jane Nalwada, who gradu-ated with a diploma in Fash-ion & Design wore a dress that she designed her self. She was thankful to Watoto for the opportunity they had

A team of 28 people from St Saviour’s Church, Sunbury spent two weeks in Uganda during August 2013 on a Visit Watoto trip. This was the fifth team trip from St Saviours to Uganda.

The team part completed the building of their second house in Watoto’s Laminadera Village near Gulu, having previously built a classroom in the village on their last visit in 2011 and their first house in 2009. To support

St Saviour’s Church – Visit Watoto Trip

the work on the construction sites in the village, the team bought three new wheelbarrows and other tools which were given to the local builders at the house dedication ceremony. The village pastor was also blessed when the team presented him with some refurbished laptops from the UK for use in the school.

While some members of the team were busy with constructing the children’s

house, other members of the team spent several days working with the women in the Living Hope initiative. They provided pedicures, led craft and music activities and delivered literacy, health and hygiene training for the women. In fact the team’s visit to Living Hope was so well received that the women performed a wonderful music and dance set in full costume for the whole team from St Saviours before the end of their visit – what a treat! The St

Saviour’s team also packaged and distributed over a thousand pairs of knickers and sanitary pads to girls at two local schools under the ‘Keep a Girl in School’ program and undertook some essential cleaning tasks at Baby Watoto Gulu. There was plenty of time to play with the babies too.

All the hard work in Gulu was followed by a short visit

to the Paraa Safari Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park. The morning game drive was disrupted when both buses got stuck in mud during a heavy rainstorm. They had to be pushed out using sheer brute strength! Despite this minor setback the team still saw lots of animals (including lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles). Overall the team is grateful for the fantastic organisation and support provided by the Visit Watoto staff that helped make the visit such a great success; however the ultimate glory goes to God who makes all things possible.

If you’d like to volunteer or get involved in a build team to Africa, explore www.watoto.com and contact us at europe@watoto.com.

Embarking On A New Journey

Living Hope founder Marilyn Skinner is travelling across the world sharing the incredible stories of the brave women at Watoto’s Living Hope.

Formerly vulnerable, these ladies have overcome some of life’s worst tragedies and are now living a fulfilled life of purpose and influence.

The Return to Dignity tour was launched to mobilise women around the world so they can make a tangible difference in the lives of the precious women of Africa.

“The cry of my African sisters deeply captures my heart. Living Hope exists because we believe that God loves each and every woman no matter what her circumstance. He wants to see all of us flourish as mothers,

Return To Dignity Tour

granted her. She was particularly grateful for her Watoto mother, sponsors and everyone else who contributed to her achievements.

Sarah Kigozi, Watoto’s Child Welfare team leader encouraged, urged and advised the graduates to exemplify the character of Christ in all they did.

Education Team Leader Dorcas Kibirige encouraged the hopeful graduates to continue in their pursuit of excellence.

Without the continuous sup-port of sponsors and partners globally, none of these graduates would have had the opportunity to pursue an education. Join the journey and sponsor a life today. For more information visit www.watoto.com/sponsorship.

Living Hope founder Marilyn Skinner

Visit www.watoto.com/returntodignity for the tour

location nearest you.

daughters and sisters,” says Marilyn Skinner.

The Return to Dignity tour comes to the UK in February, and we invite you to be part of this important movement that can change the face of Africa. Support this movement by attending a local event and/or downloading the Return to Dignity toolkit at www.watoto.com/retuntodignity.com and helping us raise awareness and support for Living Hope.

The UK office has relocated to new premises in London. We have been so blessed by the generosity of Bethel London’s Riverside Church for having housed our offices in Dagenham for the past 15 years. As we move and look to build new relationships please keep us in your prayers. Please see new contact details on the last page.

Only two months away! Are you prepared? Visit our website to read about our new gift policy and how you can give. www.watoto.com/

sponsorship/gift-policy.

Christmas

Relocation! Relocation!

Embarking On A New Journey

WATOTO EUROPEPO BOX 64946LONDON E4 0EFEMAIL: EUROPE@WATOTO.COMCHARITY NO. 1090810

“I’m a pastor,” Junior tells his village mom every day. Junior knows his bible stories and uses every opportunity to ‘preach’ to his friends.

Junior’s biological mother passed away when he was only 2 weeks old. He was malnourished and sickly when he arrived at Baby Watoto, but God healed him and made his frail little body strong and healthy.

He is now 6 years old and attends primary school, where he relishes every learning experience. He loves playing ball, singing and dancing. His favourite food is rice and beans and he loves helping his mother around the house.

SPONSOR BABY WATOTO

BEFORE

AFTER

“I ’m a pastor,” Junior tells his village mom every day.