What Is Watoto and What Do They Stand For?

Watoto is a faith-based organization founded in 1984 in Kampala, Uganda, during a time of civil war. It began as a local church and has grown into a global movement focused on:

• • • • Rescuing orphaned and abandoned children and placing them in loving families.
      • Empowering vulnerable women through education, vocational training, and spiritual support.
      • Rebuilding communities in Uganda and South Sudan through holistic care and leadership development

  Watoto is known for its Children’s Choir, which tours internationally to raise awareness and funds, and for its villages that provide homes, education, and medical care to thousands of children and women.

  Watoto is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1984 in Kampala, Uganda, during a time of civil war and crisis. Its mission is to rescue orphaned and abandoned children and empower vulnerable women, providing them with loving families, education, healthcare, and skills training. Watoto’s holistic care model addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, aiming to raise each child and woman as a leader who can help rebuild their communities and nation.

  The organization has established villages where children are raised by lifelong mothers, ensuring a nurturing family environment. Watoto also runs programs for adult literacy, business training, job opportunities for women, and initiatives like “Keep a Girl in School” to protect girls from trafficking and abuse. Their vision is to offer hope and healing, giving the most vulnerable a chance at  a better future. Watoto’s work is supported globally, including through the internationally renowned Watoto Children’s Choir, which tours countries like Canada to raise awareness and support.

    What Watoto Stands For

             •  Rescuing Orphaned and Abandoned Children:  Providing homes, holistic care, education, and a family  environment in Watoto Villages.

•  Empowering Women: Supporting vulnerable women through skills training, business development, and community building.

•  Healing Communities: Offering medical, educational, spiritual, and emotional support to transform lives.

•  Global Partnerships: Welcoming volunteers and donors from all over the world to support children and women in Uganda and South Sudan.

Watoto’s Vision for ESW

•  To provide ongoing support for Ugandan women and children in need.

•  To engage all Co-workers through creating visibility of the Watoto program and awareness of the children we are sponsoring.

•  To create connections between Co-workers and Watoto in order for the program to take on “life” of its own within ESW.

•  To make a positive footprint on the global community.

     Stories of Impact

Watoto’s “Stories of Impact” showcase’s the remarkable journeys of children and women whose lives have been transformed through the support of sponsors and donors. From inspiring leaders and empowered  entrepreneurs to graduates who carry forward a legacy of hope and resilience, each story reflects Watoto’s  commitment to nurturing potential and rebuilding communities in Uganda and beyond. These accounts illustrate how holistic care, family-centered programs, and opportunities for education and personal growth create lasting  change for individuals and future generations.                READ MORE HERE