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Watoto Child Care Ministries
The Watoto Child Care Ministries are committed to raising the future leaders of
Uganda. The Ministry's motto is "Rescue a child, Raise a leader, Rebuild a Nation".
This Ministry is reaching out to the orphans of Aids and war, the child soldiers
of the resistance, the communities around them and the rest of Africa offering their
unique brand of holistic care.
When the Watoto Choir gave a concert here several years ago, our family hosted some
of the choir members. I was very impressed by the visiting team and ended up sponsoring
a child. When the opportunity came in 2005 to visit Watoto Child Care Ministries
in Uganda, I was determined to go. Two of us spent a week being introduced to the
ministry. It was even better than we had hoped. I have been involved in African
programs of all sorts since 1973, most of them failures, and I am not easily impressed.
The most exciting part is that this is a transformational ministry. Gary Skinner,
who heads the ministry, explained that they are not just feeding, clothing, educating
and discipling these children but they are developing the future leaders of Uganda.
The model they are using is God’s model - the family. They are putting the strengths
of African society to work for them. I think one of the boys said it best. “We each
have a dream and when we grow up we will put our dreams together and change Uganda.”
I remember feeling very excited and thinking, “This could work!”
We have had the opportunity to be directly involved in this life changing, world
changing ministry. Several members of this church visited Uganda again in 2007 and
2008 to work with the staff of Watoto. We were asked to help build a teacher’s home
in Watoto's Bbira village. Teachers in Africa are given homes as part of their compensation
much like pastors used to be given a manse. We spent two life-changing weeks in
Uganda. We see ourselves as missionaries called to help in this exciting Ministry
but, in reality, we experienced God’s love in a way we never even imagined possible.
You can learn more about Watoto, their award winning choir tours, and the ways you
can become involved by visiting www.watoto.com.