Bbira Children's Village

Playing games

The children are jumping for joy here ... Makes you smile.

Managers house

Village grounds

Our beautiful hosts for the traditional lunch 

We had such fun visiting a Watoto family in their little home. Each house mother cares for 8 children, of which some may be her own. We had a traditional lunch served and then we handed out supplies which were kindly donated by an Emirates staff member on route. She heard about what we were doing and handed me 6 bags of supplies (toys, crayons, books etc). We had lots of fun handing everything out. Loved the excitement and joy on the children's faces.

Later we took a walk around the village which is situated on 100 acres of land. The village is spectacular and the children are well cared for. The little ones love to hold your hand and their impish grins are filled with hope for the future, just adorable!

Preparing grasshoppers to eat!!

School grounds

Baby Watoto Jobs - Volunteering

 So, for all of you wondering what volunteering at baby Watoto looks like read on.

Go girls

Job 1 - Cleaning 30 cots, which means carrying them outside and scrubbing them down before a hose off. Busy busy!!!

Scrub away

 Job 2 - Playing and snack time before our outing.

Play Time

Job 3 - Walking 17 babies to the shops for an outing in strollers and back packs. 

Getting our bubbas ready for their walk

Too cute

Job 3 - Feeding Time ( Mashed pumkin and veges) 
 Mmm yum!

Hungry bubs

Then we hit the markets African style. Another fun day in Africa.

Baby Watoto - Subbi

Today we visited Subbi children's village. More cuddles and love shared around. We had the privilege of attending the senior students graduation ceremony (tears ... so very moving to see these orphans celebrating such a milestone in their lives). 

We had a tour of the village which is enormous, spread over a mountainside with spectacular views. Interesting thought - the teachers have their own accommodation provided for them with million dollar views. Love it!!

This hillside community is breathtaking and the Watoto model is exceptional. As an addition to the existing babies’ home in downtown Kampala, the new facility, in Mpigi district, has the capacity to care for up to 150 infants at any given time although there are only 30 bubs here at present. The building still has much work to be done with a soft fall play area planned in the near future. The needs here are still great and babies continue to need sponsorship. There are 4 babies to one mother or nanny. Feedtime and bathtime is chaotic but well organised and super effecient. So tired after our 2 hour drive home. It is so difficult to describe the sights, sounds and smells and pictures just don't do it all justice. Having the time of my life. My heart is filled with hope.

Babies home

cot room

Change area

Kitchen 

Cutie

Baby Watoto

Finally on African soil ... simply amazing and unbelievable! My heart is happy - a dream come true. The sights, sounds and smells are an assortment of sensory delights - foreign, breathtaking, strange, overwhelming and intoxicating all at once. 

Yesterday we made our first visit to the babies home called ‘The Bulrushes’ and simply fell in love. They were so adorable, clamouring to sit on our laps. All of eighteen months and so determined for a bit of loving. My heart is blissfully happy. So much hope here!

Makes my heart melt

The babies home was opened early in 2007, to give loving care to abandoned and rejected babies. They care for premature babies (some no more than a kilo!!) right up to toddlers, receiving babies found on rubbish heaps, in trash cans or abandoned in hospitals and police stations. 

Watoto has such a high regard here and I feel so privileged to part of this amazing organisation. This is a home where Gods littlest children find acceptance and unconditional love and it really does show on their little faces. When these babies are walking and old enough to enter a Watoto Children's Village, they continue their journey to become Uganda's next generation of leaders. They will join a family and in some cases connect with their own siblings. 

Snack time

Play area

Cot room

Washroom

baby alexs story