In 2008-2009, I had the opportunity to work with war
affected community of Northern Uganda through a humanitarian organization, Cooperazioné
Internationalé (COOPI)
as Field Coordinator; and coordinated a Sexual Gender Based Violence project. The
decision to work in this region during the most trying moment for the people of
Northern Uganda is the best decision I have made, and the experience I have had
during my time there is one that will remain with me forever. I worked in this
region at the time most members of the community were still living in the
concentrated Internally Displaced People`s Camps, with a few brave families
visiting their villages to access their lands so they can cultivate some food
for their families. This was not an easy thing for most families especially
children who have lost all their parents or grandparents in the war and do not
know where their family land were. Most young people (between 01-26 years old)
were born during the war while at flight or in Internally Displaced People`s Camps
and have no idea where their homes are, meaning they have no land, as a result
cannot cultivate food; yet agriculture is the major source of survival in this
war-torn region.
One of the things that tore my heart was watching kids
forced to grow up quickly and living lives like adults; because they had jobs
to do, take up their family responsibilities and take care of each other. A
child mothering another child is something unheard of but yes, it happens in
war torn regions and in Northern Uganda too. These children are not only left
to fend for themselves but they also have to fight with their greedy relatives
and neighbours who took advantage of their parents` death to grab land from
them. These kids were and still are, exposed to different forms of abuses
including sexual violence against them.
Christmas is one of the biggest celebrated Day in Uganda,
and Christmas in Uganda to many kids means a new dress, new shoes, time to eat
all sort of food including those they really eat; it is a time for families to
be together. While in Northern Uganda, I have learnt that Christmas Day is one
of the hardest times for orphaned children as they watch their fellow kids
receive gifts from their families. I am an adult but I still struggle to
celebrate during festive seasons especially Christmas because I do feel the
huge absence of my departed parents. Come to think about it, I have never
really lived the lives of these kids, as a kid growing up I was blessed with
the abundant love of both immediate and my extended families. I have known the
joys of Christmas, family, and all the best gifts that comes with Christmas.
This actually hit me even harder especially when I think of child-headed
families struggling to make ends meet. Christmas is the time for families because it was a day a
child was born to the world and for the World. Families get together to
celebrate the birth of Christ but they also get together to share family
memories, laughs, gifts and to eat. Are you aware that somewhere in the world
there are children who have been robbed of these opportunities because their
parents were taken from them? They are left alone and lonely as families gather
to share gifts with each other, they continue to starve even on this day when
most families have too much to eat and left-overs to throw away.
Why don`t you
bless the orphaned children of Northern Uganda and give them the opportunity to
receive Christmas presents this year? How about putting food on their table on
Christmas Day? How about fixing that leaking roof this Christmas as a gift? If
you think Child-headed families deserve to celebrate and enjoy Christmas, I
invite you to be part of their blessing by buying your ticket to the “Guardian
Angel Dinner 2014”; either to attend or
as a donation if you are not able to attend in person. To purchase your ticket,
please go to http://www.trybooking.com/FWBL .
Thank you for being part of this.
Mercy Akongo
Director, This Life Foundation
