Living Hope

w.       THE FACTS

There are currently an estimated 940,000 people living with HIV in Uganda, and a further 1.2 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS.
Women are particularly affected by the epidemic in Uganda, representing 59% of those infected with HIV/AIDS in the country. Young women are nine times more likely to contract HIV than young men. These figures tell a devastating story, but today there is hope that the tide can be turned at last.

BACKGROUND

The most marginalised and wounded people in Africa are women. Left abandoned or widowed and many of them HIV+, they are destitute fearing that their children will soon join the ranks of Africa’s countless orphans. The Living Hope project is making a difference in the lives of many of these women. Launched earlier this year, Living Hope has already committed to transforming the lives of an estimated 1200 women in Kampala and 900 women in Gulu.

The target group is HIV+ single women, returnees from abduction into the Lord’s Resistance Army and teenage mothers. Living Hope is restoring dignity to vulnerable women through spiritual discipleship, improved quality of life, ARV distribution centre (provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS care), empowerment and income generating projects.

BECOME A MONTHLY SPONSOR

To be the change in the life of one of these women you can decide to sponsor one of them. This sponsoring is being run through the Watoto office. Visit their website or contact them on the details below:

AUSTRALIA

w. www.watoto.com
a: P.O.Box 2632, Mansfield DC Queensland, 4122, Australia
p: +61 7 3291 5999
f: +61 7 3849 5496
e: australia@watoto.com

UK/EUROPE

w. www.watoto.com
a: P.O. Box 690, Dagenham Essex, RM9 5YZ, UK
p: 020 8592 1287
e: debbie@watoto.com

PRAY

The key to advancing the Kingdom through the work of the Sisterhood is prayer. As we pray for opportunities to make a difference in this area of need, we believe that the right doors will open.
Pray for finance to flow into the Kingdom to support this project.
Pray for the impact of this initiative on the country of Uganda
Pray that the women affected would be willing to seek assistance.

TESTIMONY

Evelyn Amony was abducted by the LRA on her way home from school when she was 12. Caught trying to escape she was severely beaten by the rebels. As she lay dying in the bush, Joseph Kony, the infamous leader of the LRA, found her and nursed her back to health, then forced her to become his wife. She had 3 children by him. Eleven years later she managed to escape. Having lost all hope Evelyn believed a better life was beyond her grasp. Living Hope came alongside Evelyn early this year. Hope was restored and she’s found Jesus as her Saviour. She recently said, "Living Hope is empowering me to become a productive member of my community. I now have dignity, purpose, and a future."

HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR

422 Living Hope Ladies received Jesus as Saviour
Over 2000 women received gift bags of toiletries and clothing
Food supplements were distributed to some of the most desperate women
110 ladies have benefited from vocational training in tailoring and bead making and had the opportunity to sell their products at the recent Watoto Conference
1191 women have been visited by a Living Hope Community worker
46 women attended a "Grow Your Own Vegetables" Workshop where they learned about nutrition and how to use a simple kit to begin their own vegetable garden
69 Start Up Business Kits including sewing machines were given to child mothers, all former LRA abductees