It’s been about a month and a half since my last blog update…time goes by so quickly here in Uganda!!
I thought I would take some time to talk about what my day to day life looks like as I’m serving at the babies homes of Watoto. Each month we are told which one of the three homes we will be serving at for that month. It’s always an anxious week leading up to when we find out where we will be the next month with excitement for the future and also worry in our hearts with the possibility of being moved away from the friends and children that you have built relationships with over the past month. I have been very fortunate on my trip to be able to stay in Suubi and Gulu for four months each and am now in Kampala for the time being. Being in each of these places for such a long time has given me plenty of time to build relationships that will last forever and I’m so very thankful for that!!
As a volunteer in the babies home we are asked to be the extra hands in order to give the nannies more time to bond and take care of the children, they are their primary caregivers after all. Our daily tasks can vary significantly depending on which room we are placed in and also on the amount of help there is that day. I can do anything from washing bottles and dishes, to cleaning toys, feeding and bathing children, to playing games with the toddlers, singing songs, taking babies for walks, to taking pictures of each baby in the home for their files, ect. Each day is very different and always full of excitement and plenty of noise! Hahaha!
I think my favorite age group would have to be the toddlers. While I was in Gulu I was given the task to specifically work in the toddler until to help the nannies bring some order to the chaos of having over 20 children ages 2-5 all in one unit. I helped to implement some activities that were created by other volunteers to help keep the children busy while also helping them to develop the necessary motor skills and basic educational skills that a toddler should learn at this age. One of the activities that I enjoyed doing with the children the most would be water play. At the beginning of my four months in Gulu we did not have pools at the babies home so we would fill up eight laundry tubs and bring them out onto the grass. These children would always love to chase after “mommy Jaclyn” with cups of water as I’m trying to take pictures of them having fun! It would always end with me being soaking wet!! Hahaha! Just recently they installed three little kiddy pools for the children to play in! This has truly been such a blessing! The children are having so much fun as well as learning how to swim. They also built a big play set in the shape of a ship, installed swing sets and other play equipment! Our children are having so much fun with all of these new additions we are so blessed!
I love what I’m doing here with Watoto. I love being able to be a part of the lives of the children in their care. Most of these babies won’t remember who I am when they grow up but I know they will remember being loved. Here are some pictures of some of the children I’m able to love each and every day I hope you are able to in some way feel connected to these precious children.
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Be blessed!
Jaclyn
