Otino Waa - Our Children Orphanage

The missionaries that we visited for Thanksgiving in Lira (Northern Uganda), started building an Orphanage four years before. It was great to get a vision of what Hope Village will look like one day. One approach/strategy that I love about this orphanage is that they print their own money. The kids are given a monthly allowance of Otino Waa money and are responsible for purchasing their own school uniforms and school supplies. So if they lose something, then they must have the “money” to replace it. It teaches the kids responsibility and even monthly budgeting. If they are responsible with their “money”, then they have extra each month for treats. Real money (Ugandan Shillings) is considered contraband. They use to do give a monthly allowance in shillings, but they kids would go spend it all. Many had as many as 13 pairs of pants!

What a pleasure it was to walk around and visit with the kids. Here are some of my favorite pictures.....