Message From Our Leaders
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..”
—James 1:17a (NIV)
The vision for Watoto Ambassadors has been in place for many years. It’s thrilling to see it being implemented throughout the world.
You are very special to us. You’re a good and perfect gift, helping us reach the vulnerable women and children throughout Africa. Not only are you a member of our Watoto family, but you are now part of a team that will bring Watoto into its future. With your decision to be an ambassador, you will play an instrumental role in seeing the impact of Watoto spread to every corner of Africa.
Thank you for your love, passion, and commitment to the mission of Watoto to raise the next generation of African leaders.
In Christ,
Team Leaders, Watoto
Who We Are
Watoto is a family made up of people from all over the world who are working together to ensure the forgotten have a place to belong.
In 1984, during a time of civil war, our founders Gary and Marilyn Skinner planted a local church in Kampala, Uganda to speak hope and life to the nation. Since then, we’ve rescued orphaned and abandoned children, placing them in loving families. We’ve come alongside vulnerable women, equipping them with skills and empowering them to be the mothers and leaders God has called them to be. And to help our hurting neighbours, we’ve extended our reach into South Sudan.
Over the past 40 years, the challenges facing Africa have changed, but our goal remains the same. We come alongside the most vulnerable in our society, embracing them with the love of Jesus as we work to give each woman, child and baby a chance at a better future—a future full of promise.
Welcome
Thank you for your support and commitment to Watoto through the years. We are beyond excited to welcome you on this new adventure as a Watoto Ambassador.
Watoto began in the 1980s in Kampala, Uganda. As the ministry grew, so did the need to facilitate support. Today, we have 11 support offices throughout the world where our partners and sponsors live. Each office is regulated by a local Board of Directors, ensuring good practices are followed at all levels.
Take a look at the map below to see where our work is taking place throughout Uganda and South Sudan.
Where We Are UGANDA
WATOTO CHURCH
15 LOCATIONS throughout Uganda
1 LOCATION in Juba, South Sudan
WATOTO VILLAGE
3 VILLAGES Bbira, Suubi, Laminadera
BABY WATOTO
2 LOCATIONS Suubi, Gulu
MEDICAL
3 LOCATIONS Bbira, Suubi, Gulu
KEEP A GIRL IN SCHOOL
LOCATIONS throughout Gulu & Juba
NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTER
2 LOCATIONS Kampala & Gulu
1 LOCATION Juba
WATOTO FARM
4 LOCATIONS Buloba, Suubi, Lubbe, Bobi
S. SUDAN
UGANDA
Ambassador Qualities
PASSIONATE
Always eager to share the message of Jesus Christ and Watoto’s story of hope, transformation and empowerment
BELIEVER
A committed follower of Jesus Christ who believes fully in the vision of Watoto
REPRESENTATIVE
Ready to share Watoto’s story and their personal testimony of spiritual transformation as result of their experience with Watoto
ADVOCATE
Endorses Watoto and the impact of reaching individuals and communities in Uganda through Watoto Church
DEDICATED
Deeply committed to praying for God’s mission and His work through Watoto
INFORMED
Stays informed through quarterly updates from Uganda and US leadership
CREATIVE
Thinks of ways to share about the good work God is doing through Watoto while raising support.
You are a key part to changing the world. The Bible says God loves you and not only are you saved through His grace, but you are created in Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Maybe you’re a teacher, a mechanic, a pastor or someone who likes to host dinner parties. God uniquely gifted you, so why not use your gifts and talents to help others?
As a Watoto Ambassador, you get the opportunity to rally others and help spread the word about the work God is doing through Watoto. Be it through fundraising activities like skydiving, hosting events, or sharing stories of hope online, this is your chance to have a lasting impact as only you can.
No matter what role you play, to us it’s much more than a particular project. It’s connecting with God’s family throughout the world to make a tangible difference in the lives of women and children in Uganda and South Sudan. And to us, you’re a hero.
Overview
Purpose of the Watoto Ambassadors
• To foster a community of committed volunteers who are empowered and encouraged to share their story, skills, and resources to support Watoto initiatives.
• To create opportunities for existing Watoto sponsors and donors to engage with Watoto projects on an ongoing basis.
• To help exponentially increase Watoto’s impact in Uganda and throughout Africa by utilizing our collective skills and resources in a collaborative and innovative way.
Role of a Watoto Ambassador
• Represent Watoto in his or her church and city, sharing the mission of Watoto and encouraging others to become engaged with Watoto.
• Through collaboration with Watoto leadership and fellow ambassadors, utilizing his or her skills and resources a Watoto Ambassador proactively pursues ideas to increase engagement and connection to Watoto’s transformational work in Africa.
• Is committed to serve as a Watoto Ambassador for two years.
Types of Ambassadors
Focus Area Ambassador
Works directly with other ambassadors in their chosen focus area to achieve goals set in collaboration with Watoto leadership.
Team Builder Ambassador
Engages active sponsors while fostering relationships with Watoto volunteers in their church and city, recruiting them for events and projects as needed.
Marketplace Ambassador
Influences others in their spheres of occupation, commercial business, or social media to bring awareness to, and engagement with, the work God is doing at Watoto.
Focus Area Ambassadors will meet once a quarter with the lead ambassador of their focus area, and once a year with Watoto leadership in Uganda via video conference.
The Goal of These Meetings
• Celebrate and share updates (progress, impact, and evaluation) on projects they are working on
• Brainstorm ways to support existing and new initiatives within their focus area
• Offer supportive resources to one another when and where possible
• Encourage one another in their relationship with God and service to Watoto
• Pray for Africa and Watoto’s transformational work
Quarterly Meetings Engagement Opportunities
Focus Areas
PASTORAL PARTNERSHIPS
EDUCATION
WATOTO CHILDREN’S CHOIR
MEDICAL
WORSHIP ACADEMY
SPORTS ACADEMY
BABY WATOTO
WATOTO NEIGHBOURHOOD
KEEP A GIRL IN SCHOOL SUSTAINABILITY
Annual Gathering
Allowing Ambassadors to Connect and Grow
• Engage with the Watoto Leadership Team in Uganda and receive the most up-to-date information about what’s happening on the ground, including new initiatives and needs.
• Brainstorm and collaborate to begin making plans for the year ahead during round table sessions to help meet the goals and objectives of Watoto’s priorities.
• Share the testimony of Gods impact with fellow ambassadors and see the life transforming impact on communities in Uganda.
Sponsorship Changes Lives
Jane Rescued as a baby Dreams of being a doctor
Watoto Sponsors ensure each child grows up knowing the love of Jesus while receiving food, clothing, education, and a family all their own.
Liam Rescued as a baby Wants to be a policeman
A Watoto village is a safe place where a child can truly experience the love of a family.
Our villages provide homes, families and holistic care to over 3,000 children who receive everything they need to grow up healthy and whole—food, clothing, medical care, education, and most of all the love of a mother.
Across our three villages—Suubi, Bbira, and Laminadera—our mothers have their hands full.
Each home is made up of a Watoto mother who is raising eight orphaned and vulnerable children. Together, they’re a family.
Since we first began, we’ve rescued and provided a home, an education, a family and a bright future to over 5,500 children—and each year our family here grows.
This is made possible by the love and support of people throughout the world. Each of you are truly helping us raise Africa’s future leaders.
We rescue Uganda’s most vulnerable babies, providing them with a loving family and a future full of hope.
Many babies in Uganda are orphaned or abandoned, often found at bus stops, churches, hospitals, and even found by the side of the road—and we thank God that together we can change their stories.
Whether babies come to us with serious medical conditions, or just need lots of cuddles, clean diapers, and warm milk, we make sure they receive the medical care, nutrition, and love they desperately need to help give them the best possible start in life.
Regardless of how they come to us, we provide the love and care each little one needs to grow up healthy and whole.
Our goal is to help our babies bond, develop, and thrive—knowing we’re raising Africa’s future pilots, lawyers, builders, and leaders.
WATOTO.COM
Africa’s greatest resource is her women, empowered.
The harsh reality is that many women throughout Uganda and South Sudan have been left to bear the brunt of war, poverty and disease. Millions of our sisters have been abandoned and robbed of all dignity. Uneducated and unemployable, they are left to suffer alone.
But together, we’re changing this by providing adult literacy classes, discipleship, business skills training and job opportunities. As we embrace these women with the love of Jesus and empower them with skills, they find hope and purpose.
We passionately believe that when a woman is empowered, she can reach her full potential and her whole family is transformed.
South Sudan
At Watoto, we have faith in Jesus. Yet we ask ourselves, what good is our faith if our brothers and sisters lack food or clothes and we do nothing?
In Juba, South Sudan the need is staggering. Over the past 40 years, we’ve seen God use our faith-inaction in Uganda to accomplish more than we could have ever imagined. We know that He can do the same in Juba.
We believe South Sudan’s future will be brighter than its past, because of what we do today.
“With eyes of faith I see a miracle unfolding before me—where women and children will have their stories transformed. Mothers will raise up a generation who know the Lord and will transform the nation for His glory.”
-Vernita Rwotlonyo, Watoto Neighbourhood
Keep A Girl In School
Every girl matters and every girl has the right to stay in school.
For girls like Joyce (pictured here), education isn’t just important for a brighter future, it’s critical to their survival. Yet, girls often drop out of school simply because they can’t afford feminine hygiene products.
A lack of education leads to vulnerability. Vulnerability leads to unwanted pregnancy, human trafficking, sexual abuse, domestic violence, HIV, early marriage, and a life of no choices.
Together, we can change this.
Education plays a critical role in breaking the cycle of poverty and violence. When girls are kept in school, they stand a better chance of growing into empowered women who transform their neighbourhoods and nations.
Currently, we’re working alongside local schools in Uganda and South Sudan to reduce the dropout rate by providing sanitary products, teaching girls their value in Christ, and igniting their passion for education.
We’re also teaching young boys to respect and protect their female classmates and reminding girls that they matter, and their bodies are their own.
With your help, we can keep girls in school, educated and empowered—and we can change their future.
We go into the hardest of places, sharing the love of Jesus and providing opportunities for education while empowering the most vulnerable. As we move forward, we will undoubtedly continue to do God’s work in Uganda while expanding our reach in South Sudan and other places throughout Africa that are crying out for help.
Today, millions of mothers in Uganda and South Sudan struggle to feed their children. These mothers and children are not the problem, they are the solution. Empowering vulnerable women with the love of Jesus, and providing trauma counseling, discipleship and job training will not only change their lives, but their children’s lives and future generations to come.
We will continue to ensure children receive medical care, regular meals, and the opportunity to attend school. We believe every child deserves the hope of tomorrow. We see their potential as future leaders to change their communities and help rebuild their nation with the love of Jesus. We know this is possible because we’ve seen it happen every day for the past 40 years in Uganda.
Let’s not simply look at the situation and hope it gets better, let’s act and make a difference.
At Watoto, we’ve seen the love of Christ in action, transforming thousands of lives. It’s this love that compels us to embrace those hurting around us.
Let’s work together in reaching our communities, building up our neighbours, and bringing the lost home.
Watoto Global Support Offices
WATOTO UGANDA (HEAD OFFICE)
PHONE: +256 (0) 779 676 559
EMAIL: UGANDA@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO ASIA
PHONE: +852 2639 9797
EMAIL: ASIA@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO AUSTRALIA
PHONE: +61 (3) 9645 6547
EMAIL: AUSTRALIA@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO BRASIL
PHONE: +55 (41) 3039 7102
EMAIL: BRASIL@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO CANADA
PHONE: +1 888 9WATOTO
EMAIL: CANADA@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO GERMANY
PHONE: +49 152 553 00 288
EMAIL: GERMANY@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO NETHERLANDS
PHONE: +31 614 591 196
EMAIL: NEDERLAND@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO NORWAY
PHONE: +47 977 61 010
EMAIL: NORWAY@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO SWEDEN
PHONE: +46 10 221 61 73
EMAIL: SWEDEN@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO UK
PHONE: +44 203 225 1048
EMAIL: UK@WATOTO.COM
WATOTO USA
PHONE: +1 813 948 4343
EMAIL: USA@WATOTO.COM