Watoto (Swahili word for children)

What is Watoto?
In Africa, there are over 60 million orphaned and vulnerable children (HIV/AIDS, conflict, disability, street children). These staggering numbers will have impact on a family, community and a nation's future. In Uganda, the future for many of these children will be changed through the work of Watoto.
Watoto's mission is to rase the next generation of Ugandan leaders. Parentless children are placed in families where unconditional love, spiritual discipleship, care and nurture and the meeting of their physical needs takes place. These children will grow up to be change agents for Uganda. If these children are equipped with essential moral values and life skills they truly can live lives of significance and lasting impact. There are currently 3 villages and one baby facility, caring for 1700 children, situated in the Kampala region.

Gulu Project
Since 1987 the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony, has waged a ruthless campaign of terror against the people of Northern Uganda. Their tactics have been particuarly brutal and in order to bolster their ranks, the LRA have abducted children from the local communities. More than 30,000 children have been stolen from their homes and forced to join the LRA, where they are brainwashed and placed on the front lines against government troops. These children, as young as 8, are forced to participate in the horrific acts that have destroyed their own families and communities. Often little girls are sold as sex slaves, traded for weapons or given as gifts to rebel commanders.
Even if these children manage to escape often their families have been displaced, or if not they are not accepted back because they are labelled as murderers or prostitutes.
Watoto is now looking to build villages in Northern Uganda, specifically to meet the needs of child escapees from the LRA, and eventually when peace comes those children who will be released with nowhere to go and no-one who wants them.

Giving
As a church, we are hoping to give £8000, which will be enough to build one Watoto house in Gulu which will house 8 children and a house mother. There will be a 'Watoto Update' at church at the end of every month, with an opportunity to give. Or you could give online using our secure system. Remember to send the email from the giving page stating 'Watoto' as the reason for your gift.