Watoto Canada is a 2-star charity with Average demonstrated impact. It has a C Results Reporting grade, which is below average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 84 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range. Read Ci's report before donating.

Founded in 1984, Watoto Canada was formed through the Watoto Church, a community-focused church in Uganda. Watoto Canada currently works in Uganda and South Sudan to raise orphans, empower women, and rescue babies and child soldiers. Watoto has four main programs: Watoto Villages, Baby Watoto, Neighbourhood, and Girls in School. Watoto also runs a Sports Academy, a Worship Academy, a choir, and Watoto Farms.  In 2022, Watoto Canada spent $3.8m on its programs. The charity does not provide a spending breakdown of its programs.

Watoto Villages: Watoto believes that when orphaned and vulnerable children are placed in a loving family environment with a mother and siblings, they find a place that they can call home. Watoto Villages are clusters of nine houses and provide all the essentials of a basic home. Each family is made up of a mother and eight Watoto children. Watoto provided shelter, education, food, and medical care to 3,336 children in 2022. There are a total of 388 families living in homes across Watoto’s three villages. The charity also administered 1,761 childhood immunizations for measles, polio, tetanus, and hepatitis B.

Baby Watoto: This program helps abandoned babies and toddlers, aged 0 to 2, by placing them with a nanny. Each nanny cares for four babies who come to Watoto from hospitals, local authorities, child protection units, "good samaritans" and other organizations. In 2022, Watoto rescued 59 babies. The charity also provided 1,657 babies with medical care, food, and protection. 24 of the charity’s toddlers graduated from Baby Watoto and moved to their new families in a village.

Watoto Neighbourhood: This program helps vulnerable women in the areas of housing, healthcare support, employment, and education for their children. In 2022, the charity gave 1,646 food baskets to families during Christmas. 453 women received start-up capital to start their own small business. In 2022, 895 women graduated from adult literacy classes.

Keep a Girl in School: The Keep a Girl in School program gives out menstrual supplies so that girls can go to school while on their period. It also provides “Godly sexual education to girls and boys—teaching young boys to respect and protect their female classmates and reminding girls that they matter, and their bodies are their own.” Watoto provided sanitary products to 9,938 girls in Uganda and South Sudan. Watoto helped 27 girls who previously dropped out of school return to class in 2022. The charity partnered with 69 schools in Uganda and South Sudan.

Watoto Canada is only partially financially transparent. At the time of this review, Watoto Canada's 2022 financial statements were the most recent, which is seven months after its year end.

Watoto Canada received $4.5m in donations in 2022. The charity spent $3.8m on its programs, which is 84% of revenue. Watoto Canada recorded a deficit of $104k, meaning it drew on its reserves to fund its operations.

Administrative costs are 16% of revenue (excluding investment income). The charity does not report fundraising costs. For every dollar donated to the charity, 84 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Watoto Canada has $658k in reserve funds (cash and investments). The charity’s reserves could cover 18% or two months of its annual program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Watoto Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on August 12, 2024 by Liam Chapleau.

Tel: 1-888-992-8686