Watoto Children

[Ozigrey]

Dear friends,

I am new to this forum so please forgive me if I have posted this topic in the wrong area (I couldn't find anything specifically relating to missions - the ministry area was the closest).

Anyway, my church in Australia is currently involved in trying to formulate the best approach to caring for orphans overseas. We have a lot of missionaries working in 3rd world countries where aids, war and poverty have created enormous numbers of orphans. My wife and I spent last year working in Uganda and you can't step outside your front door without being confronted with the problem over there.

Our church is currently looking at various models of care for orphans and one of the models being held up is the Watoto style used in Uganda where 8 orphans are housed in a purpose built house with a house mother which then forms a family for life. I know the Watoto Children Choirs have toured many of your countries and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with their program and any comments from your own areas on how the program is viewed.

Thanks.

 

[handy]

Hi Ozigrey, welcome to the board.

I'm not familiar with the Watoto style of caring for children, but I like what you posted about it. Keeping things smaller and emphasizing creating a family sounds like a great approach. My only concern is the lack of a house father as well as a house mother. But, I know that it may be hard to impossible to find enough men willing to do the work. Hopefully, when possible a couple can be used to provide both mother and father to the children.

I pray that God will bless you and your church in this work. I can't think of anything that is more important. Keep us posted on how your church progressess.

 

[Ozigrey]

Thanks Handy - yes it is very exciting work. Watoto is currently caring for around 1600 Ugandan children in small homes just like the one I described (there are approx 2 million orphans in Uganda alone). The church that runs the Watoto program has a ministry called 'Father's Heart' which links men from their church with a particular Watoto family, and they have to commit to (I think) 16 years of helping to nurture and disciple the children in that home. They in fact become a father figure. Most of the women who become house mums are widows or destitute themselves, so the program is also helping them.

The big issue of debate at my church is how this model compares with a 'community' based program that seeks to support orphans in extended families within their original community (like a child sponsorship type model.)

Thanks again for your comments.