A Child Champion Courageously Lives Out Her God-Given Purpose
“Mama Ida” empowers kids in her Ugandan community to thrive. And at 85 years of age, she’s going stronger than ever.
BY ROBYN WILSON, CHILD CHAMPION, U.S.A. | PHOTOS BY DONNA ATOLA AND TY VAN RENSBURG
Ida has witnessed the difference it makes when children have champions to hold their hands, advocate for them, and encourage them to find their God-given purpose.
When one person offers a hand, can it rewrite a child’s future? What about one encouraging word? Or one powerful prayer?
Ida Wanendeya, lovingly known as “Mama Ida,” answers, “Yes!” Because at 85, she’s witnessed it time and time again — starting with her own life.
Growing up in a poverty-stricken community in eastern Uganda, Ida remembers how much her family struggled.
“I’ve seen what it means to be poor,” says Ida. “But I’ve also seen how lives can be changed if somebody holds your hand.”
When she was a child, Ida says most kids in her village didn’t have the chance to go to school. Many kids couldn’t afford school fees, while others had to work to support their families.
But Ida’s parents, who were teachers, made sure that she attended school. Her dad believed in education so strongly that he rode his bike through the village every evening encouraging parents to send their kids to school.
Each day, Ida walked 3 miles to attend the nearest elementary school. “If I was lucky, I’d get a bowl of porridge — that was my breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea,” she says.
Journey deeper into the hard places of Africa — watch this captivating video. Be sure to watch until the end because there’s hope on the other side.
A child eager to learn at a school in Uganda
“I grew up in such difficult situations, but God always sent people to help me and hold my hand.”
One of her most memorable champions was her sixth-grade principal.
“He rode his bike 25 miles to my house,” says Ida. “He told my father that he saw great potential in me and that I needed to attend Gayaza High School — the best high school in the country at that time.”
Ida attended the high school, and after she graduated, she excelled in college. During those years, she realized that the difficulties she endured as a child helped prepare her for the future.
Students in a classroom in Uganda
“In university, I was a good athlete — nobody could win if Ida was in the race!” she says with a laugh. “When I used to walk 3 miles to school, I would complain. But that was God helping train my body.”
Ida has witnessed the difference it makes when children have champions to hold their hands, advocate for them, and encourage them to find their God-given purpose.
Kanyogoga slums.
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Today, Ida is passionate about “holding the hands” of kids in Kisugu, an impoverished community in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. When Ida started working in ministry 20 years ago, her church, St. Stephen’s Kisugu, launched a vital program for children. Throughout the years, the church has established multiple schools to help children in the community receive an education. Today, St. Stephen’s Kisugu partners with OneChild to help more kids fulfill their God-given potential.
Ida loves inspiring kids with her story. Because throughout her childhood, she was blessed with caring Child Champions who believed in her, spoke truth into her life, and pointed her to God’s love.
Kanyogoga slums.
Along the way they see moms selling produce or other items, and Olivia knows that the women are at constant risk of being arrested for plying their small trade because they don’t have a vending license.
Children in school uniforms walk through the slum as well, but some of them are going in the opposite direction from the school. They have been sent home for lack of school fees.
This is Mahad’s world, and he walks quietly through it, secure in the presence of his grandmother and Olivia.
Finally, they come to the church, a bright space with sunny lawns. A place where Mahad can feel at home with Olivia by his side.
Asia smiles watching Olivia swoop Mahad up in her arms.
Mahad is now all smiles as Olivia sets him down and takes his hand. With her other arm around his grandmother, Olivia leads them to chairs under a canopy where they can wait with other families to be registered into OneChild’s sponsorship program.
Child Champion Olivia (center) receives Mahad and his grandma Asia (left in pink) on registration day
A Day of New Beginnings
This registration day is just as special for the congregation of St. Stephan’s Church as it is for Mahad.
For years, members of the church have courageously gone into the nearby community to help kids and families with education, vocational training, and basic needs. But the church could only support a limited number of kids from the community.
Now, through a new partnership with OneChild and an Anglican church in Louisianna, St. Stephen’s Church Kisugu is opening a Hope Center ministering to many more kids like Mahad.
“This project means a lot to us,” says the Rev. Fredrick Jackson Baalwa, Vicar of St. Stephen’s Kisugu. “This project will help us to minister holistically and deal with the helplessness of the slum area in our community.”
Not only are children from the slum arriving this morning to be registered at the Hope Center, but Child Champions at St. Stephen’s are learning to use a new OneChild-supported app called Bridgely that will enable them to connect directly with the sponsors of the children they serve.
The Bridgely platform has been designed with Mahad, and thousands of children like him, in mind. Sponsors in the U.S. and Child Champions at St. Stephen’s can use the app to quickly send photos and videos to one another. Mahad’s sponsor will be able to encourage him with notes that Olivia can read to him, and Olivia can send videos and other messages from Mahad to his sponsor. These kinds of updates used to be sent in printed letters that would take months to arrive. Child Champions at St. Stephen’s are excited that the app will help them streamline outdated processes and save on everything from translation to postage so that more funds get directly to the children.
Mahad and other children registered on the app are an integral part of the birth of a whole new app-based community — a “Cause Community” that stretches from Uganda to Louisiana. A community made up of Child Champions from St. Stephen’s church, sponsors, and others — all united in their love for these little ones.
Mahad’s Moment
Mahad is the first child to be registered through the Bridgely app at his new Hope Center.
Olivia makes a welcome video that will be uploaded to the app so that an American in St. Stephen’s Cause Community can choose Mahad to sponsor. Mahad sits in a plastic chair next to Olivia, who encourages him to introduce himself, while another Child Champion films them in the app.
Shyly, Mahad speaks in a barely audible voice. Olivia smiles and translates for the short video clip.
Olivia with Mahad on registration day
The rest of the children will be registered in the same way on this day. And now people in this Bridgely Cause Community who have decided to sponsor a child will see more than printed photos of children waiting for a sponsor. Through these video clips, they will meet moving, giggling children like Mahad — a little boy with a shining face and a shy smile, swinging his feet in a pair of yellow Crocs. They will hear the voices of the kids and their Child Champions.
The Courage to Hope
Yet, as amazing as this use of technology is, what Mahad’s grandmother sees is much bigger.
With Mahad in the program, Asia has gained the courage to believe that her grandson’s future is being rewritten.
“I was unable to register him for school, but I am so happy that someone is willing to walk this journey with me,” she says.
Mahad doesn’t know yet what he wants to be when he grows up, but his grandmother believes that with the opportunity to enroll in school soon, he will have the chance to dream. Asia, who was never able to attend school, believes education can help bring hope to Mahad.
For now, Mahad loves playing football with his best friend Valen. At home he helps with house chores like arranging dishes and loves shopping for his grandmother.
Asia’s hope for little Mahad is that he can become the light of their family.
“I hope that he will study and become a successful boy who will bring hope and help to his siblings, his mom, and me,” Asia says with a smile.
Ida gives all the glory to God for her church’s partnership with OneChild, which is helping even more kids receive the life-changing care that sponsorship provides like medical checkups, educational opportunities, crisis support, special family gifts, and encouragement from sponsors that gives kids the courage to dream.
“I get down on my knees and thank God,” Ida says. “This is close to my heart. I want to do whatever I can to ensure our partnership with OneChild prepares these children for the world.
“And because each community has different needs, I appreciate that OneChild looks at local needs and seeks ways to address them. My dreams are being fulfilled. God is answering our prayers!”
Another way Ida serves children in the program is by praying for each one fervently.
Looking for ways to pray for children in poverty around the world? Be inspired by a Child Champion’s prayer for kids in the Philippines in this powerful video!
“My prayer is that these kids understand that God wants to open ways for them to achieve their purpose,” she says. “I ask God to help them gain skills so they can serve Him. I pray that they will look back and ask, ‘How did I manage to get here? Is it because of what I’ve done?’ And they’ll say, ‘No! It’s because of what God has done.’”
Ida plans to spend the rest of her days bringing hope to kids in hard places.
“I firmly believe God put me on this earth for a reason,” she says. “And if I don’t use the resources that God gave me, I’m working against God. He brings each one of us into this world for a purpose.”
If you’d like to “hold the hand” of one more child, find a boy or girl who needs you today!
Child at St. Stephen’s Kisugu being registered using Bridgely
Sponsors helping kids at St. Stephen’s Kisugu are using a new app called Bridgely to connect with their sponsored children in exciting ways. Through this innovative platform, sponsors send messages, photos, and even videos to the Child Champions to translate and share with the kids. Bridgely is only available for a few church partners now, but we look forward to connecting all sponsors in the coming years!
