Watoto

At the heart of Watoto is a local church who Celebrates Christ and Cares for Community. In 1983 and in a time of civil war, Gary and Marilyn Skinner planted a local church in Kampala, Uganda, to speak hope and life to the nation. About two years later, Uganda was hit by HIV/AIDS with one of the highest infection rates and number of AIDS orphans in the world. A defining moment for Gary at that time, was meeting a grandmother who was taking care of 26 grandchildren all by herself. Her husband and 6 of her 7 children had died, leaving her grandchildren orphaned. He felt God speak to him: “Gary I want you to look after My children.” Instantly he knew that this was the orphan, because He is the Father of the fatherless. 

Watoto now has two Baby Homes and three villages that provide loving homes, education, food and medical care to over 3,000 orphaned and abandoned children every year. Since 1994, Watoto has also sent over 90 choirs around the world to perform in churches, schools, parliaments and royal palaces to share the love of Jesus Christ and their stories of transformation and hope. 

In more recent years, Watoto has expanded into the neighbourhoods of their church campuses, reaching out to vulnerable women and children in the community, right where they are at. Watoto Neighbourhood embraces vulnerable women who have been widowed or abandoned and who, through no fault of their own, have often contracted HIV/AIDS. With over 3000 women in its care (representing over 15,000 children) Watoto Neighbourhood is giving these women the medicine to stay alive and empowering them with discipleship and life skills, so that they can earn an income and look after their children.