The Kids
Video of Otino Waa Kids
Otino-Waa Creed
I am a special child of God. Chosen and saved for a unique purpose
My life has been difficult; but God has been and will be with me
I have my own guardian angel who watches over me
It is not my fault my parents are dead. I will miss them until the day I die.
I choose to forgive the people and circumstances surrounding their death
Because I know, my own healing and well-being begin in forgiveness
In the future, whenever I feel sad or angry,
I will find someone who loves me and tell them how I feel.
I know I can always talk to God in my heart.
No one can take His love for me away.
I am learning to be grateful for my life knowing that God will use me to help
others, who also have a difficult life,
Life is hard, but God is good!
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Every child at Otino Waa has a story. Most are willing to tell you some of that story. Some things we may never know. All of them have been affected in some way by warfare, AIDS, neglect, abandonment, extreme poverty and disease.
Please step through the gate at Otino Waa and meet some of the kids who will share their lives with you.
Some are true orphans and some are considered "Children At Risk" because of their own health or the conditions they came from.
MEET SOME OF THE CHILDREN
Jimmy (in his own words)
"My father was a policeman. He died of AIDS. My mother died from AIDS too. Food was little. We had no clothes. We had no bath. There was no place to sleep except on the dirt floor. I had a blanket. My 9 brothers and sisters were alone and cooked and cared for themselves. The oldest was about 14. We were thieving food from gardens. When I was 10, I was taken by rebels. I was forced to carry food sacks that were about 65 lbs each, the whole day. One day I hide when it was dark and the rebels could not find me. I ran all night and a pastor found me sleeping. I now live at Otino-Waa and have a new family."
Thomas (as told by Carol Higgins)
Thomas is a 10 year old boy. He used to live at Ayani IDP (Internally Displaced People) camp with his father and his adult sister. His mother died some years back. When first found in the camp, he was so very dirty, his hair was all matted and his tattered pink shirt was kept over his face to hide his oozing wounds. The shirt was covered with flies.
You see, over two years ago, a local healer (witch doctor) tried to remove an abscessed tooth. It became infected and then the witch doctor tried to do surgery on the outside of his face, probably with a sharpened bicycle spoke. That is so often the surgical tool of choice in the village. Thomas has lived with this condition for over two years.
People in the IDP camps have no money and no medical intervention has ever been to this camp. Thomas has stolen my heart with his crooked little smile. He tells me he is going to sing me a song when he gets well.
Dr. Shirazi told me this morning that Thomas' surgery was the most difficult he has ever faced. His infected jaw bones peeled away just like layers of an onion. He is concerned that maybe the salivary gland might be damaged but the facial nerves are OK and should not cause any facial paralysis. About 4 inches of Thomas' jawbone is totally gone.
Thomas is now doing great and his jaw has healed better than anyone expected. He loves school and would like to someday be a doctor.
It is up to you and I to be sure that there is hope beyond their memories and a future full of promise.
The time that the children spend at Otino Waa will shape their future and very possibly, the future of Uganda.
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