In 2006, UrbanLife raised $17,000 to build a classroom in Suubi Village in Uganda.
In January 2006, a small team from UrbanLife Church travelled to Uganda to build a classroom.
In June 2007, another team returned, building both a school and a classroom.
The Watoto Children’s Choir is an outreach of Watoto Child Care Ministries in partnership with Compassion Australia. This ministry was birthed by Canadian missionaries Gary & Marilyn Skinner, pastors of a 13,000 people English speaking church in Kampala Uganda. Their church was established in 1983, and in 1994, because of their deep conviction to help the thousands of children orphaned by Aids and Civil War, they started the Watoto Children’s Choir.
Watoto (Swahili for children) currently cares for 1445 children, 14 of whom are currently attending university. For $19,000 Australian, a three-bedroom home can be built to house 8 children and 1 house mother. This becomes their family unit. Houses are built in villages and contain a school, medical centre etc. Pastors Gary & Marilyn Skinner believe it is very important to give these children a home instead of placing them in large orphanages.
This is an amazing experience for these children, all having lost either one or both parents to Aids. This experience urges these children forward, becoming a part of something much bigger than themselves. It encourages them as individuals to be all they can be. Eddie Mwesigye, one of the team leaders said, ‘These children have been rescued from all sorts of bad situations and given new hope. Some have been found on rubbish dumps with their hands tied, saved from lives of prostitution and unbearable living conditions. These children are the future leaders of Uganda. We teach these children that they can make a difference in Uganda.'
In September last year, during a concert at UrbanLife Church, an offering of $6,770 was given directly to the choir to take with them to Uganda.
UrbanLife Church Menai participated in other fund-raising events which saw an amount of $17,000 raised which went directly to building a classroom for High School students in Watoto. In January 2006 a team from UrbanLife Church went to Uganda to help in the building project.
