The Ugandan orphans living with HIV whose lives have been transformed

Over the weekend I was invited by my long-lost friend to a school inter-house drama festival and cultural gala at Ssuubi Children’s Village and Hope School, 13 kilometers away from Kampala on Masaka Road.

These villages have homes created for children who are orphans and schools where they get an education. I was filled with tears of joy to witness children whose parents died from AIDS, dancing, laughing and making so many people happy.

I cried when I saw children who had been rescued from near death dance and celebrate life. Some of the children are living positively with HIV and are constantly monitored to ensure that they take their drugs.

This school is an establishment of Watoto, started by pastor Garry Skinner and his wife Marilyn. Their story is a simple one.

“Most of these children are HIV/AIDS orphans who were rescued by Watoto when they were babies and they have now been given a chance to a good life,” Garry said.

“We planted a church that we believed God would use to restore hope to the city and the nation.”

And that is what their seed has done. They have made good citizens out of so many that the world had given up. There are so many stories to tell at Watoto. But all the stories are of rescuing children, giving them a home and education. There is a story for Joseph, Lydia, Godfrey, Alex and Barbara (all available to read on the Watato website).

Watoto is a Swahili word meaning children, and the main thing given is love. Love made possible by the gifts of leadership, caring, praying together and commitment from Christians and non-Christians. Every home has love and children have medication when they are sick.

For me, as I saw children dancing, smiling and running about, I could not hide my gratitude. To think that so many lives, which would have been wasted due to HIV, become adults who know their responsibilities to themselves, their societies and the world. This was such a fulfilling feeling to me.

There are indeed people who dream dreams, like Garry and Marilyn, and are ready to pay the price to make those dreams come true.