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Watoto Australia

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Melbourne, VIC
Watoto Australia

Watoto brings hope and healing to vulnerable women in Uganda and South Sudan.

https://www.watoto.com/donate/
https://youtube.com/?si=XUJJ_i0MaIjov9Cu

https://www.watoto.com/get-involved/volunteer/ We raise funds to support the holistic care of vulnerable women and children in Uganda & South Sudan

23/07/2025

Wondering if hosting the Watoto Children’s Choir is right for your church or school?
Here are 3 powerful reasons to say YES this tour season.
Don’t wait—spots are filling fast.

Email [email protected] to book!
Credit: .studios

21/07/2025

Every number tells a story. Swipe to see the impact of this 40 year ministry.

09/07/2025

What happens when you choose faith over fear?
This is more than a story—it’s a reminder of what’s possible when you trust God in those paralyzing moments.

Watch the full interview on YouTube (link in bio).

07/07/2025

In the weeks leading up to the trip, I unfolded a map of Uganda on my kitchen table to see where we were going. I knew little of the country beyond its war-torn past and the several times I had seen the Watoto Children’s Choir perform. Beyond that, I was walking into the unknown. Our team from church—one of several that had been to Uganda—was an interesting mix: a retired serviceman, a data analyst, a couple from the medical field, a childcare worker, and me—a carpenter by trade. Our mission was simple: to help build a primary school classroom in Suubi Village.
Each morning began the same way. After a time of prayer, a member of the Watoto team would collect us in his van, navigating the red-dirt roads toward Suubi. Our task was to carry bricks—stack by stack—and lay the foundations of a primary school. At night, we returned to our guesthouse in Kampala—dusty and tired. Those evenings became a time to reflect on all we were seeing. One morning on site, we unfurled a large mural created by members of our church. It bore the names of everyone who had contributed to the trip, each name hand-painted. It was a day I will never forget. We stretched our hands toward the mural and prayed—for the children, for the people of Uganda, and for our own church community thousands of kilometres away. Our time at Watoto wasn’t all manual labour. We visited Baby Watoto, where toddlers clambered over us, and we enjoyed a traditional lunch in a village home. Being in Uganda made me acutely aware of the life I had taken for granted. We live in a country of abundance. We dream of new Hiluxes, caravans, and coastal holidays. But in Uganda, I saw people with almost nothing who could still smile. It changes your perspective. At the end of the week, we boarded a small aircraft and landed on a dirt strip for our three-day safari. An open-top Land Rover took us to a beautiful game lodge, where days were spent spotting giraffes, elephants, and baboons, and nights on the balcony listening to lions roar. We even cruised down the Nile.

Today, I carry not just fond memories—but a legacy: a classroom built with love.

03/07/2025

"I want you to look after my children." — the words that changed everything.

In this powerful interview, Gary Skinner shares the extraordinary moment that sparked a global movement.

Want more? Watch the full interview on YouTube (link in bio).

01/07/2025

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our End-of-Financial-Year Appeal.

Because of your generosity, our young people now have a real shot at achieving their dreams. Thank you for loving Watoto!

30/06/2025

To everyone who’s already given to our campaign —thank you! Your generosity is helping our Watoto students chase their dreams.

If you haven’t had a chance to give yet, there’s still time to make a difference before the end of the financial year.

Donating is easy. Simply click the link in our bio.

25/06/2025

Orphaned as a little boy, Brian came to Watoto just before his seventh birthday.

Today, Brian dreams of becoming a business owner so he can create job opportunities for his Watoto brothers and sisters. Brian is studying hard at university to make that dream a reality. We’re so proud of how far he’s come — and we can’t wait to see him cross the finish line.

With just 4 days left until the end of June, would you consider making a tax-deductible gift to help provide tuition for young adults like Brian? Every gift makes a difference. Giving is easy — visit WATOTO.COM or click the link in our bio.

* Don’t miss the video version of Brian’s story, arriving in your inbox tomorrow.

24/06/2025

Abandoned and left fighting for life, Katie was rescued by Watoto as a newborn. Today, Katie is thriving and dreams of becoming an accountant so she can help vulnerable people manage their money.

With 6 days left in the financial year, your tax-deductible gift will help young people like Katie find their purpose and realize their dreams. Visit WATOTO.COM or click the link in our bio.

20/06/2025

On Flashback Friday, we’d love to reintroduce you to Emily.

She dreams of becoming a lawyer so she can advocate for women and children in her community affected by domestic violence and poverty. This passion has been on her heart since she was a little girl—and today, she’s closer than ever to making that dream a reality.

Emily is now in her first year of law school. Although there’s still a long road ahead, she’s more determined than ever to make a difference, reaching the lost with the love of Jesus. And YOU can help make sure she crosses the finish line and becomes the leader God destined her to be.

Right now, 800 bright, resilient young adults in our care are ready to take the next step to university. But they can’t do it without your help.

If you’ve already given—thank you. You’re changing lives.

If you haven’t yet, please consider giving before June 30. Every gift counts.

Visit WATOTO.COM or click the link in our bio to give a gift that will help Emily—and other Watoto students realize their dreams and change the world.
(Donations of $2 and over are tax-deductible).

18/06/2025

We’d never met Gary and Marilyn Skinner before that night in Melbourne—but the moment they heard my friend Monique, and I had spent time volunteering in Uganda, they wanted to know everything. So, we pulled out our photo books from our 2016 trip and told them all about our experience. We were 20 then, freshly graduated from our teaching degrees and looking for something more than just a post-university holiday. Watoto became that something more. It was our first time in a developing country. At first, the chaos, traffic, and noise overwhelmed us, but we soon found our rhythm and had some unforgettable experiences. We learned to make chapatti, ate roasted grasshoppers (not as bad as you’d think), got our hair braided at a roadside stall, and visited communities in the slums to deliver sanitary items. The heart of our trip was volunteering at Baby Watoto. Each day, we fed the babies, played with them, sang nursery rhymes, and dressed them up to take them to church on Sundays in traditional African slings. There was one baby in particular—Gabbie—who captured my heart. She sang constantly. In the bath. At mealtimes. When I returned home, I began sponsoring her. She’s nine now. In her latest letter, she told me she’s been selected to tour with the Watoto Children’s Choir—in Brazil. What an incredible opportunity for this little girl to expand her worldview. My own introduction to Watoto had been through a choir visit when I was in primary school. Now, a child I cradled nine years ago at Baby Watoto is doing the same for someone else. When we returned to Australia, Monique and I didn’t want our involvement to end. We organised a Watoto Baby Shower — with our Girl Guides group featuring an “African-style relay,” where kids carried baby dolls on their backs and balanced buckets of water on their heads. A local hairdresser braided hair. We shared photos and stories and raised $700. Later, we helped host a community concert with the choir. The hall was packed. People left moved, changed, inspired. Watoto is not just a part of my story. It’s family and meeting Gary and Marilyn was like being at a family reunion.
Interested in visiting Watoto? Email [email protected]

Address

PO BOX 799
Melbourne, VIC
3207

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61396456547

Website

http://www.watoto.com/

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Our Story

Watoto is a family of people across the globe who are working together alongside the most vulnerable in Uganda to assist individuals to become leaders in their life so they, in turn, will rebuild the nation.