Building on ideas to make kids visible

BY JENNETTE LEES

TWO Albion Park women are set to remove themselves from their lives, families and careers for three weeks to help Ugandan orphans.

Linda Barkeit and Karen Mannisto, both mothers with successful careers, will help aid organisation Watoto build a home for eight orphaned children and one house mother. The compassionate pair are set to fly out of Australia to the East African nation of Uganda on September 28 this year. They first came across Watoto while attending a Christian women's conference. At the conference they watched a film about Uganda's "Invisible children", the name given to the hoards of children who fall victim to the country's civil war or HIV/AIDS epidemic or third world status.

Watoto was established in 1994 in response to the AIDS crisis confronting Uganda. Today the organisation impacts the lives of more than 1500 orphans by providing physical, emotional, educational and spiritual care to some of Uganda's most vulnerable children.

Watoto builds villages for orphaned children.

The trip Linda and Karen are set to go on will see the pair work with a team of others to build the third village by Watoto.

It was Linda who first decided to go to Uganda to help out. Karen, who says she is not exactly the "salt of the earth type" took a bit more time before the plight of the children in Uganda got the better of her and she decided to accompany her long-time friend.

"After seeing the film about the invisible children I knew I had to do something, I thought to myself we have to care for these kids, we need to make a difference," said Linda. The pair are working to raise $38 000 required to build the house.

A trivia night is planned for next month, Saturday July 14 at Albion Park RSL Club. Organise a table of 12 at only $15 per person. Have fun while fundraising!

Admission includes a light supper, tea, coffee and of course lots of trivia.

Be there at 7 pm for a 7.30 start.

The pair are calling on businesses and members of the community to get behind the cause and donate prizes for the night.

They are also planning a number of other fundraising activities including a fun run and barefoot bowling day.

The $38 000 they need to raise will go directly to the construction of a new house, all volunteers who go on the trip pay their own way there.

If you would like to book your table or help in the trivia night or make a cash donation to the cause please email Karen at karenmannisto@bigpond.com