Hope for Ugandan Orphans Urged Through Global Village

The website greets visitors with an ominous disclaimer: “Warning! Some content and videos may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.”
But the information and images - which can certainly be heartrending - are there because they need to be. Because by seeing them, people can learn, become inspired, make a difference in the world, and show others the true love of Jesus Christ.
This Global Village is a website that was created in the summer of 2010 to present raw, real, and uncut stories from the Christian mission field. Utilizing various forms of technology, the site gives missionaries around the world the chance to instantly connect with readers, allowing them to support their work and follow their stories moment by moment.
By posting photos, videos from a Flip camera, and text messages on thisglobalvillage.com, Joseph Tumwebaze of the Apostles’ Revival Centre - International Ministries is raising awareness of the plight of the young Ugandan children he is trying to help, and collecting donations necessary to build a school for those who have been orphaned.
“Children cannot speak for themselves. They need someone to do this on their behalf,” said Tumwebaze. “I’m an advocate for the children in God’s kingdom, thus I’m meant to speak for the speechless.”
Tumwebaze, 34, is a Ugandan missionary who is in the Rakia district, where many children have lost their families to illness and extreme poverty. He has seen atrocities caused by the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS and prays that by sharing his story with others, they will help him do God’s work.
Through the Good Samaritan School Project, Tumwebaze hopes to provide the orphans with clothing, nutrition, life skills, and an education by building a facility that will bring literacy, health, and a hopeful future to the impoverished youngsters. He is also creating a sponsorship program that will enable those who wish to help by contributing to individual children.
“Poverty is expressed in all aspects of their lives, including spiritual poverty, economic poverty, socio-emotional poverty, and cognitive poverty,” Tumwebaze said via email, a task he undertakes by traveling two hours to the nearest village with electricity and Internet access. In a place where people share their water with livestock, live in grass houses, and struggle to eat one meal a day, modern conveniences like laptops and cell phones are not a reality.
It may not be easy for Tumwebaze to communicate, but his message comes through loud and clear: “I want to let the world out there know that these children are in desperate need of their support.”
By documenting his journey on thisglobalvillage.com, Tumwebaze hopes to engage others, with the ultimate goal of having the basic facilities for the school in place within five years.
“I want them [readers] to feel like they are part of me, and that’s when I will get the best out of them in support, help, comments, ideas, and of course, donations to help out these children,” he said. “I want them to learn how to advocate for children, nurture them into full mature Christian adults empowered to serve others in their communities and to love one another with a true love of Jesus Christ.”
This Global Village was created in response to the recent surge in social media, audiences’ fascination with reality TV, and society’s eagerness to know everything about everyone as soon as it happens. By providing a forum where real people can instantly contribute undiluted and timely information, the website strives to forge unprecedented connections between missionaries like Tumwebaze and those who support them.
“I feel good using technology to do God’s work,” said Tumwebaze. “This Global Village is a most trusted website, and can easily help us achieve the goals of our child ministry.”
For Tumwebaze, helping the children of Uganda who have had their families, homes, and hope for the future decimated by HIV/AIDS was “a burden and a special call from God” - one he hopes others will share.
“I love working and associating with other people,” he said. “And I like making new friends. I welcome people’s ideas and comments. I pray that we get support to start the school project for these needy and orphaned children. If this is done, the magnitude of the impact will be great.”