Meeting the Children in Claire House and Robyn House, Faye's story, August 2007

When Faye Fraser’s father gave her a trip to Africa for Christmas, she couldn’t have been happier. Faye had been to Uganda in August 2006 to help build two memorial homes for orphaned children in honour of her sister Claire Fraser and her best friend Robyn Buffington. Through Watoto Child Care Ministries, the Claire Foundation donated the funds to build two houses, Claire House and Robyn House, in the children’s village of Suubi, Each house would become home to eight orphaned children and a house mother. The Claire Foundation is committed to sponsoring the children and the house mothers in the two homes.

When Faye and the rest of the volunteer global build team left Uganda at the end of August 2006, the houses were almost completed. The Watoto builders would finish the inside of the homes and put on the roof. Then the families would move in. The children and house mothers moved into Claire House and Robyn House on February 14, 2007. On December 25, 2006 Faye was given the greatest gift she could imagine, the chance to meet the children and the mothers.

Building a Teacher's Home

Faye arranged to participate in the building of a teacher’s home in Bbira village, another children’s village under Watoto Child Care Ministries. The Claire Foundation donated funds to assist with the build of the teacher’s home.

The foundation also sent necessities and gifts with Faye for the children and mothers in Claire House and Robyn House. The foundation asked Faye to purchase jewelry and crafts from the babies homes in Kampala to help orphaned babies. These items would be sold or raffled at fundraisers in Canada to help support the children in Claire House and Robyn House.

Faye arrived and headed out to Bbira village to help build the teacher’s home. She loved being part of the new build, but her heart longed to see Claire House and Robyn House again and to meet the children and mothers. When Faye arrived in Uganda she had to wait five days before she could make the trip to Suubi Village to see the houses again and meet the families who are now living in them.  She could hardly wait.

Sorrow Turned to Joy

Finally the day arrived and the build team climbed aboard the bus for a visit to Suubi Village. Faye was loaded down with almost 100 lbs of gifts and necessities for the children and mothers of Claire House and Robyn House. It was a very emotional moment when the bus rolled into the small community where over an hundred orphaned children now had permanent homes and mothers to care for them.  For Faye the moment was a mixture of joy and sorrow. She was engulfed in memories from August 2006, when she, her brother, her dad and two family friends had help build the two homes in memory of her sister Claire and her friend Robyn.  Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she made the walk to Claire House and Robyn House.   But then she saw the children and everything changed.

As Faye explained, “The moment I saw those children, all that sorrow was washed away.  I was so happy to see them. I can’t express the joy that flooded over me.” 

Gifts for the Children

Faye met the house mothers and presented them with gifts, from dishes and writing paper, to scented moisturizer and dishtowels.   In both Claire House and Robyn House,  half the children were away at Watoto Child Care Ministries summer camp.  But Faye was able to meet and spend time with eight children from the homes. 

 “It was so much fun giving out all the items I had brought all the way from Canada.  The older children were playing the tambourines I had given them and the younger ones were so excited about the puppets.” The Claire Foundation had sent many items which included books, dictionaries, puzzles, hackysacks, crayons, pens, paper, balls, school supplies, toys and a special diary journal for each child.

Making a Difference

“It made me so happy to see these children having so much fun.  When the Claire Foundation first received their profiles, their stories were so horrendous and the children looked so much in need of care.  Now I couldn’t believe the change in them. It had only been six months since we received their profiles and photos.  Already they looked so much happier and healthier.  They have hope now.  I am so glad I got to meet the children and mothers of Claire House and Robyn house and I am so glad the Claire Foundation is sponsoring all of the children and the mothers in the homes. You really can make a difference in someone’s life.”

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