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Uganda has been identified as country that is highly vulnerable to food shortages during the global food crisis. Sponsorship can help Jonathan and his family get the nourishment they need.
I live with my mother and father in the Dokolo District area. The primary language where I live is English. My mother and father are sometimes employed as day labourers. At home, the chores and duties I'm responsible for are animal care, buying and selling at the market, carrying water and childcare. I like art and/or drawing, ball games, bicycling and dolls. My favourite activities at church are Youth Group, Bible class and camp. My favourite activities at the centre are learning about God and listening to Bible stories. I am in the equivalent of grade 10. My favourite subject is Math.
Jonathan's Country Details
Uganda is a diverse country of forests, lakes, rivers, plains and mountains. The south, near Lake Victoria, is densely forested, while the north is open grassland. The Nile, as well as many other rivers and lakes, criss-crosses the countryside. Although it straddles the equator and is truly tropical, the country's high altitude moderates the climate.
Uganda is home to many ethnic groups, and its people are still mostly rural and engaged in agriculture. The largest populations live in the south of the country, and huge portions of the land are set aside as national parks and wildlife reserves. More than three-quarters of Ugandans are Christian; the rest are mostly Muslim. English is the official language, with Swahili used for commerce. Although there was a serious AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, since then, the infection rate has fallen by approximately 80 per cent.
Until the 19th century, Uganda was occupied by a number of Bantu and Nilotic peoples, the most recent of which was the kingdom of Buganda. Arab traders first visited in the 1840s, and Europeans first visited the area in 1862. A civil war, partly caused by religious divisions, resulted in the kingdom of Buganda becoming a British protectorate in 1894. Independence movements in the 1950s came to fruition in 1962 when Uganda was granted self-rule. In 1971, Idi Amin took control through a military coup, looting the country and killing his opponents during an eight-year reign of terror. A failed invasion of Tanzania resulted in the fall of his regime, but the restored civilian government was overthrown in 1985. The military government was again overthrown in 1986, and a new constitution was adopted in 1996.
Compassion’s ministry is focused on what we call holistic child development. This means developing children in all the different aspects of their lives—their minds, bodies and relationships—while giving them the opportunity to hear about and experience the love of Jesus from caring local church staff and volunteers.
How does sponsorship help kids?
Formal and non-formal educational opportunities Compassion assists children with their primary school education and gives opportunities to attend secondary school, as well as providing vocational training opportunities and extra-curricular activities such as sports, field trips, music and computer training.
Health care, hygiene training and supplementary food Kids get a healthy snack or meal when they attend program activities, receive regular health check-ups, and learn how to take care of their bodies and form healthy relationships.
The love and support of a local church and the opportunity to hear about Jesus
Because Compassion partners with local churches, children are connected to a local Christian community where they have the opportunity to hear the gospel from caring church staff and volunteers.
Personal attention, guidance and love Children are cared for and invested in by members of their own communities, who encourage them to discover their unique gifts, passions and abilities. Their sponsors also play an important role in this through their prayers and letters.
Is sponsorship still relevant during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis?
During the pandemic, we saw firsthand the impact of crises on children in poverty. We also saw how powerful sponsorship can be in equipping local churches to respond in specific, effective and life-changing ways. As we continue to see multifaceted crises impacting children around the world, we know that the need for sponsorship remains urgent. We are more confident than ever that your commitment to sponsorship truly allows children, families and communities to be deeply known, loved and protected through it all.
Why do you work with local churches?
Compassion works exclusively with local churches because they know the names and faces of the children in their community and can best understand and respond to their challenges. They are known and trusted by their neighbours and are able to reach those in the greatest need with compassion and through the love of God.
We equip our local church partners with the resources, training and expertise to help children escape poverty. Each church is empowered to implement the program in a way that meets the specific needs of the children they serve. In this way the physical, spiritual, emotional and relational needs for children are met as they are empowered to overcome poverty in all its forms.
Do kids need to be Christian to be in Compassion’s program?
Absolutely not! We encourage children and families of all faiths and backgrounds to register in our programs and would never require or coerce anyone to convert to Christianity.
At Compassion, we take financial stewardship seriously.
As certified members of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, Compassion Canada is committed to handling the finances entrusted to us with the utmost integrity. This year, 84.7 per cent of funds were used for program activities benefiting the children we serve, and 15.3 per cent for support services.
Today, children around the world are discovering that poverty doesn’t have to be their future. Help one more do the same by sponsoring with Compassion!
Jonathan is in the process of getting sponsored by someone else.
While we're sorry you could not sponsor this specific child, we would love to help you find a different child to sponsor.
