New Vision (Kampala) - September 28, 2008
Ganzi Muhanguzi

Twenty four years down the road, KPC is the fastest-growing church in Uganda. With a membership of over 20,000 and up to 21 services each week, one would imagine Gary Skinner's dream has come true. But nothing could be far further from the truth.

"My dream is to see 10,000 churches across Africa take up the challenge of rescuing vulnerable children and mothers," he says. He also hopes to take care of 10,000 Ugandan orphans by 2023.

Skinner's passion for children started as far back as Idi Amin's reign of terror. According to the pastor, God instructed him to stay on and take care of orphaned children.

In 1992, KPC started its child care ministry, Watoto. By then, few civil society organisations were working with children and the AIDS scourge was at its worst. Now, over 1500 orphans are being taken care of at the ministry's two villages, with another, in Gulu, in the offing.

"Watoto is a response to the growing number of orphans and vulnerable children," Skinner says.

The ministry's holistic approach to child care involves construction of model villages, with homes, schools, clinics, agricultural land and a sense of family.

"The Watoto mission is not about saving as many children as possible," Skinner says. "It is about raising them to become future leaders who will bring change to their nation."

Most of the children in the Watoto villages are got from partner organisations and district authorities. "First, we ensure that the child does not have any living relatives," Lydia Sendijja, a social worker with KPC explains. This involves crosschecking hospital and Police records and confirmation from local leaders.

If a child has surviving relatives, the ministry encourages them to be involved in the child's development. Those who are confirmed to have no relative are fostered.

Each home within the Watoto villages houses eight children. An adult female, who acts as a mother figure oversees three homes. The older children also look after the younger ones.

Dorcas Kibirige, the Watoto education team leader emphasises that the villages operate like ordinary families.

"Anywhere there is a community, there are bound to be some problems," she says. "But we do not face anything a normal family wouldn't face."

After their primary education, some of the children are taken to secondary schools, while others get a vocational education and learn such skills as tailoring and metal work.

During their teenage years, the children face the usual challenges of adolescence. "Some of them get attracted to each other, while others, because of their background, turn a bit violent and naughty," Kibirige says.

She, however, adds that the children are lovingly helped to overcome such problems. "We take them through life skills programmes and for those who need additional help, we provide counselling."

"Although we let them interact, we also make them aware that they are not yet ready to take on the responsibilities that come with relationships and the dangers of HIV/AIDS," Kibirige adds.

After university, the children are assisted, where possible, to get jobs and set up homes. The ministry ensures that their charges get a soft landing.

"When they are ready to move on, we give them three to six months' rent, a bed and mattress, and cutlery," says Kibirige. However, the children are always free to go back to the homes. So far, 25 of the children have graduated from university and 17 are employed.

During a recent Watoto Conference, Pastor Skinner challenged delegates to do more for children and become change agents in their communities.

"God doesn't speak to the government. He speaks to His people," he said. "Unfortunately, we have abdicated our responsibility of taking care of the children to the Government."

"I believe these little, insignificant orphans are one day going to become tomorrow's great African leaders. But the time to act is now. We must not wait or give excuses," he said.

True to his word, Skinner, in partnership with Hillsong Australia and several international churches are working on opening yet another branch of the child care ministry, in Gulu. It will provide thousands of children in Northen Uganda a place to call home.

What started as one couple's dream 16 years ago is now a life-transforming ministry for thousands of children. The evils done by the LRA rebels may never be erased.

But, starting in October, these children's mourning will be turned into dancing for joy and hope will once again shine on their little faces.

Mao lauds KPC role in north.

Gulu LC5 Chairman Norbert Mao has lauded the church for its role in rebuilding war-torn northern Uganda. He was speaking at the recent Watoto Conference in Kampala.

The Conference, which drew more than 500 global church leaders, aimed at building partnerships to bring hope to orphans and vulnerable children.

Mao said it was important for the church to work with the community to bring lasting solutions to social problems. "We are all serving people in our different capacities. I share KPC's vision and we can be partners," he said.

Last year, KPC established a church in Gulu with the aim of bringing healing to the region.

KPC has aslo begun construction of the first Watoto children's village in the north to provide residential care, vocational training, trauma counselling and spiritual discipleship.

Watoto, a ministry of KPC has already been rebuilding the lives of thousands of orphaned and vulnerable children and women in Kampala.

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