Orphans build houses for widows
Publication date: Sunday, 7th September, 2008
Orphans construct a house in Aweru Village, Amuria district
By Rehema Aanyu and Harriette Onyalla ORPHANS under the New Hope Uganda, a Luweero-based Christian non-governmental organisation, have built houses for widows in Amuria district. Jennifer Adit, a mother of six and a resident of Aweru village, was among the beneficiaries of the project. The youth use funds collected from bazaars, selling chapattis, soda, auctions and donations to fund the programme. Adit, 30, said her husband, Charles Ogwal, was killed by the LRA rebels in 2003. Since then, she has been living in Ojenit Internally Displaced People’s Camp with her children. “Even though we lack many things, I am grateful that we now have a house. I am very proud of it,” she said. For a week, a total of 45 orphans camped at Ojenit and donated stationery, clothes, shoes and sports gear to children orphaned by the LRA conflict and HIV/AIDS. James Kavuma, one of their leaders, said they were showing God’s love and mercy to the beneficiaries by sharing with them the little they have. “Because I am an orphan, I know what they are going through. We came together to encourage them to continue living, believing in God and not despair,” he said. Jonnes Twebaze, the coordinator New Hope Uganda, said apart from living and sharing with orphans and widows, they were also spreading God’s love. “At the end of it all, we are bringing hope to the hopeless and love and courage to those in despair,” he explained. The youth will also build homes for widows and orphans in Rakai and Gulu districts.
This was so exciting to read, this was in one of the national newspapers of Uganda (New Vision) about some of our children in New Hope, Very proud of them.