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CHILDREN’S VILLAGES Watoto Children’s Villages are a haven of security, peace, learning, meaning and spiritual vitality. Children between the ages of 2-12 are accepted into Watoto Children’s Villages, where they are cared for by a house mother, and live with 7 other siblings. They attend school and receive a quality education. A community centre for school assemblies, community functions and church services is also a part of the village. A clinic is established to provide adequate health care. These villages have been established around Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. WATOTO GULU In 2007, KPC is planting a church in Gulu in the north of Uganda. For over 20 years, this area has been under the rebel oppression of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army). Child soldiers have been abducted and turned into weapons of terror against their own families and communities. In recent times peace talks have been underway, but many of these children are left with nowhere to turn. Soon after KPC Gulu has been established, Watoto Gulu will begin the major work of rehabilitating these child soldiers through Watotos’ holistic child care program. Beyond these children’s brutal past, lies a future of hope. BABY WATOTO Baby Watoto, ‘The Bulrushes’ - a home for babies, was opened early in 2007, to give loving care to abandoned, and rejected babies. Tiny preemie’s to toddlers, found on rubbish heaps, in trash cans or abandoned in hospitals and police stations, are brought to their new home where they find acceptance and unconditional love. When these babies are old enough to enter a Watoto Children’s Village, they continue their journey to become Uganda’s next generation of leaders. Throughout the years the Watoto profile has risen around the world. Here’s how you can partner with them to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders. SPONSORSHIP Watoto’s sponsorship program makes it possible for you to sponsor a Watoto child or another member of the program. Your partnership will rescue a parentless child from poverty and destitution and give them hope for a brighter future. Each sponsored individual has multiple sponsors in order to provide the holistic care that is a critical component of the Watoto vision. Watoto sponsorship is done on a monthly basis. Your monthly gift will cover clothing, education and food. You will receive regular correspondence and you are welcome to visit in person as a part of a Visit Africa trip to Uganda. DONATIONS Every year Watoto receives financial contributions and gifts in kind. Each gift is valuable. Watoto is truly grateful to every generous donor. As an organization, they minimize the operational and administration costs, ensuring that caring for the children is priority. SUSTAINABILITY As a part of Watoto’s vision, they want to see Watoto as a self-sustainable entity by the year 2010. They are raising up and training leaders to develop agriculture and livestock projects. Enterprise development is also a focus bringing in additional funds to make Watoto self-sustainable. Please go directly to the Watoto website: www.watoto.com to find out more information about this organization or to sponsor a child. Donations can be made through our Foundation by check or PayPal – please specify WATOTO with your payment. You can also make donations through the Watoto website directly.
WATOTO CHILDREN’S CHOIR FROM UGANDA Watoto means “The Children”, and these children are on a mission. Through their inspirational songs and compelling stories, the Watoto Children’s Choir is spreading a message of hope for Africa’s children. In 1994, Gary and Marilyn Skinner were moved with compassion concerning the critical orphan crisis in Uganda. As a result, Watoto Child Care Ministries was established as an outreach of Kampala Pentecostal Church. Today, Watoto is caring for over 1500 parentless children by providing physical, emotional, educational and spiritual care. The goal of Watoto is to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders by pursuing excellence in academic and practical skills, integrity in conduct and moral values, so that each child becomes a responsible and productive citizen. Since 1994, the Watoto Children’s Choirs have toured internationally as ambassadors for orphan children in Uganda. “Concerts of Hope” inform people of Watoto’s vital work and afford audiences the opportunity to participate in restoring hope and dignity to some of Africa’s most needy children. Each child in the choir has experienced tremendous personal tragedy, having lost one or both parents in the African AIDS crisis or other calamities. Now through their music and dance, audiences around the world witness the life-transforming love of God experienced by the children of Watoto. The choir’s music and multimedia presentation is a soulful fusion of gospel and contemporary African style. Dressed in colorful costume, the children’s enthusiastic song and energetic dance has moved audiences world-wide. |
In 1992, Watoto was born through KPC, a thriving local church in Kampala, Uganda. Since then over 1700 Aids orphaned Ugandan children and widows have found life, hope, purpose, dignity and meaning again through a holistic care program. The Chase Edler Humanitarian Foundation is proud to join forces with Watoto through donations and is also sponsoring a Watoto child. Watoto cares for orphans and widows in the following ways: