Volunteers to help former Ugandan child soldiers
July 28, 2004
World Vision Children of War Rehabilitation Centre in need of repairs
MISSISSAUGA, Ont., July 28, 2004 - Seven Canadians, including Guelph residents and World Vision staffers Philip Maher and Corbin Andrews, are winging their way to northern Uganda later this week to help traumatized children who have known nothing but life in a war zone.
World Vision staffers Corbin Andrews, left, and Philip Maher, right, have arrived in Gulu - along with five Canadian volunteers - to begin reparations of the World Vision Children of War Rehabilitation Centre. |
For 18 years, the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has been abducting children to serve as soldiers, porters and sex slaves in its war against the Ugandan government. Since 1995, World Vision's Children of War Rehabilitation Centre has been attempting to undo the trauma inflicted on these children.
The World Vision Children of War Rehabilitation Centre provides health care and psychosocial counselling to the children who have experienced rape, torture, intimidation, and being forced to kill members of their family or community. During the rehabilitation process, centre staff trace the children through community networks in preparation for returning them to their families.
But after sheltering, feeding and caring for 10,000 children, the centre is now in need of some repairs and a general facelift. In order for future children needing the centre's services to be greeted in an environment that is warm and welcoming, the volunteers will be renovating and painting a number of areas, including the health centre, counselling room, kitchen and bathrooms.
Andrews, head of World Vision Canada's Interactive Media and Publications team, is making his first trip overseas with the Christian humanitarian relief and development organization. "From what I know of the centre, it is making a vital contribution to the welfare of children who have seen so much horror in their short lives," Andrews says. "I'm not a carpenter, but I'm looking forward to helping out with the work - whatever I can do."
Andrews is joining team leader Maher, a veteran World Vision emergency specialist, and five Canadian volunteers. Maher, who has visited the rehabilitation centre before, says, "The work these volunteers are doing is important - both for the children, who will benefit from the repairs, and the Ugandan staff, who need to know the world has not forgotten their efforts in alleviating the suffering in this prolonged humanitarian crisis."
