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Watoto is excited to launch a brand new initiative of Living Hope. Marilyn Skinner, co-founder of Watoto, will be travelling across the world in the Return To Dignity Tour, to mobilise women so they can make a tangible difference in the lives of their sisters in Africa.

RETURN TO DIGNITY: THE TOUR

WWW.WATOTO.COM | JUL 2013 | ISSUE NO.2

WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION

Watoto is passionate about raising transformational leaders. We purpose to set our kids up to pursue excellence in all they do, and disciple them on integrity and other moral values so that each one of them becomes a responsible Christian and a pro-ductive member of society who will contribute to the transforma-tion of their nation.

We are thrilled that many of them are already making a difference in the community. A couple of years ago, some of our High School students joined hands to sponsor a child. They’re still sponsoring today and have inspired many others to do the same. Others participate in vari-ous community projects such as the refurbishing of schools, hospitals and homes for the dis-advantaged around them.

A particular group of Watoto

continued from pg. 1

We are elated to celebrate a huge milestone in the history of our children’s choirs since they began travelling internationally in 1994. Choir 57 just returned from

Brazil and is the second choir to tour in South America. We are honoured and grateful to God for over 1,400 new sponsors from this tour in the Americas.

The team had an amazing time interacting with the social and hospitable people of South America, who supported them every step of the way.

“The highlight of our tour is definitely the incredible response we witnessed to the message of Christ in our presentation. We saw many people give their lives to Him during the concerts. It was an incredibly moving experi-ence and I loved being a part of it,” says Gideon Kizito, Team Leader for Choir 57.

The group had the opportunity to spread and share the love of Christ at several new churches, hospitals, schools and retirement homes.

There were also challenges along the way. Following the deadly and destructive Hurricane Sandy that destroyed bridges and cut off power supplies in the

northeast USA, this choir was forced to cancel some of their concerts, as mobility was quite impossible. However, God was faithful and the choir was able to bring hope and healing to hurt-ing people.

The language barrier could have been another challenge, but our Watoto kids chose to see it as an opportunity to expand their vocabulary. Many of them were inspired to learn some basic Portuguese, and some of the children even presented their stories in Portuguese. Needless to say, the locals were thrilled and overjoyed with the team.

Four other Watoto Children’s Choirs are currently on tour. Choir 58 is touring the UK and Netherlands, Choir 59 is in the USA, Choir 60 in Canada and Choir 61 in Australia.

Follow the activities of the

THE SOUND OF HOPE

If you have read Marilyn’s book Return To Dignity, you will know the women, whose stories are

featured in this book, represent the powerful miracles that are possible if women are given a hand up in life, and shown the

love of Jesus.Living Hope founder, Marilyn

Skinner declares, “God is doing something incredible in Africa. He is mobilising a generation of wounded women and raising them up to transform their com-munities. Where you and I might see oppression, God sees an opportunity to make evident His love for those who are in pain.”

More than 2,100 women in Uganda have already expe-rienced this love. This past January, Living Hope enrolled an additional 540 precious women into the program.

The group has already gone through discipleship training, and some of the ladies have given their lives to Christ. The next step is personal trauma counselling to empower each of the ladies to confront and overcome past hurt and affliction.

“I have learnt about forgive-ness and have come to appre-ciate its value. The HIV/AIDS counselling has helped me a

great deal, and I’m now able to help counsel my friends too,” says Beatrice Namuwemba.

Living Hope also provides business training, character classes and an adult literacy program for those who have challenges with the English language.

After the business training, the ladies are encouraged to come up with basic business ideas and plans. Start up capital is provid-ed for approved plans.

“The business training has been extremely beneficial and I’ve also learnt how to save,” says Gertrude Kamuli.

“We know not everyone can visit Africa, so I would like to bring the experiences of the ladies at Living Hope to you. If you have a ministry for women or you think your church or or-ganisation could benefit from the ministry of Living Hope, I invite you to host a Living Hope party,” says Marilyn.

During the tour, Marilyn will be sharing the incredible victories of the women, the exciting Living Hope projects and ways in which you can be part of this move-ment.

For more information on bookings, visit www.watoto.com/returntodignity or email sue.jones@watoto.com.

choirs on the road at www.watotochoirs.wordpress.com and find out when they are in an area near you. You can also see the choir at www.watoto.com/the-choir/see-the-choir

students participated in the 2012 International Day of the African Child (DAC) celebrations – a day that is set aside globally to raise awareness for the continuing need to improve the standard of education provided to African children.

As part of Kampala Interna-tional University (KIU), our Wato-to students started a community outreach program, directing their efforts to Bushenyi Primary School – a school for disabled children about 280 kilometers from Kampala.

They raised support from fel-low students, university staff and the community in Kampala in the form of cash contributions, scholastic material, clothes and shoes, among others. They also established a children’s church in the school, which has been operational since July 2012.

Watoto Students Transforming Community

During this year’s DAC celebra-tions, these young leaders set up a small computer laboratory for the school and also equipped the

children’s church. “We were once rescued from

a life of desperation and given a chance to do something with

our lives. All we want to do is help others get a similar chance,” says Francis Mubiru, a Watoto Student.

We would love to say a huge thank you to the students of The Royal High School, East Barnton Avenue, Edinburgh for the ador-able quilts they made and donated

Thank You to Baby Watoto. After seeing a program, which

included news of Baby Watoto’s premature baby clinic, the pupils along with their teacher, wanted to do something to help.

“The students, aged between

13 and 14 years, were keen to take part. With no previous sewing experience, both boys and girls made 60 adorable premature baby quilts,” said Irene Brown, their teacher.

Thank You and God bless you.

WATOTO EUROPEPO BOX 690DAGENHAM ESSEX RM9 5YZ 020 8592 1287EMAIL: EUROPE@WATOTO.COMCHARITY NO. 1090810

LIVING HOPE FOUNDER Marilyn Skinner shares STORIES OF HOPE, FAITH, COURAGE, AND TRANSFORMATION

“I thought that I was a nobody. I had no identity.But through Living Hope, I discovered that I do have value and God loves me.”

FLORENCE NANFUKA