Watermark in Africa

So what is a child-headed home?  It is exactly what it sounds like.  It is a house where the parents, usually deceased, are no longer in the home, and the oldest child takes on the “parent” role to the younger siblings.  Through ALARM, we have provided support to some child-headed homes, but there are many more to serve.  We got to meet with one of those in need.

Molly, the ALARM Uganda field office manager in Gulu, learned of a critical situation last month through her church.  She met with them over the past month to provide some of the most basic needs, most notably food.  Molly and the team brought us to visit the family.

There are four children in the family – a 16 year old boy named Richard and his two younger brothers (ages 13 and 6) and his one younger sister (age 12).  Their dad died in 2003, and their mom died in 2005.  So Richard became head of household in 2005 at the age of 12, caring for his then two, eight and nine year old siblings.

In assessing their needs, it was clear they were in great need of the most basic of things.  They have one meal per day, they don’t attend school, and their small home is falling apart (not to mention roof leaks and bug infestation).  For cooking, they have one sauce pan and one pot, which makes cooking and storage of food difficult.  They do not have mattresses, but rather sleep on small wood mats.  They told us they often wake up in the middle of the night when ants and other insect bite them.

Richard shared with us that he is a Christian and relies on Christ to sustain his difficult life.

I had the incredible privilege of praying with Richard and his siblings.  When I was done praying, Richard broke down and wept.  It was clear it had been a long time, maybe years, since he wept about his unbelievably difficult circumstances.  So I sat with Richard for a bit to encourage him and celebrate his faithfulness as a man who provides for his family (1 Timothy 5:8) in difficult circumstances.  I thanked him for his great example of faithfulness.

We worked with ALARM to provide for some of their most immediate needs within a week, including a couple of pots, some mattresses, a light, etc.  Since their house is falling apart and in danger of collapsing, we committed to partner with ALARM to build a new home for Richard and his family.  We hope to receive the plan from ALARM shortly.  The next step will be to identify how to get them in school.

Please pray for Richard, his siblings, and the ALARM staff and local church who are now encouraging and serving the family.  Pray we would be faithful stewards of our resources to be a part of God’s means of grace to countless other child-headed homes.

Monday – Visit with a child-headed home we are currently sponsoring.

Richard (blue shirt) with his siblings

Damage to their home. Leaks are causing the walls to erode.

Kitchen

One of the kids sleeping on a wood matt on the floor

The one light they have to see at night.

The family in front of their home.

A home we built for another family last year. Example of what we will do for Richard and his siblings.