ROTOM is a Christian ministry dedicated to meeting the spiritual, social, physical, and psychological needs of the elderly and the children under their care in Uganda & Ethiopia. Journey with us on a Mission to empower older persons to live dignified and fulfilled lives. Join us on a lifetime and the blessing of helping others!
"Our lives have changed drastically in the 3 months we have been supported by ROTOM. My wife Sofia gets her blood pressure medication on time, we recently received brand-new beddings, a new radio and even a vacuum flask to keep our tea hot. We now spend our quiet evenings listening to the radio and marveling at the good fortune that has befallen us in our old age. I used to dread the dawn of each new day. Now, I cannot wait to see tomorrow.” -Dickson and Sofia, new ROTOM seniors
"My heart burns with pleasure every time I see the smiling face of my grandmother. Because of ROTOM and her partners, my grandmother is indeed living a fulfilled life. ROTOM held my hand. ROTOM showered me with extraordinary love. ROTOM walked with me. ROTOM raised me higher. ROTOM made me a victorious champion. I’m ready to use my nursing knowledge and skills, especially thorough giving first aid to serve my community which I never imagined doing. I am passionate about healthy living and I’m committed to living my dream now that I have it. Thank you so much ROTOM!" -Barbra Nabacwa our first Champion from ROTOM School
Senior Veronica Buyinza, 82 years young, is one of the many seniors receiving monthly food support from ROTOM. Thankfully for the past 5 years, Veronica and her 6 grandchildren have been receiving a monthly food package from ROTOM to supplement the little food they grow around their home. Now more than ever, Veronica is so grateful for this support because many households are unable to put food on the table because of the increasing prices of food. Your donations help feed ROTOM Seniors’ households like Veronica's, all year long.
Relief and gratitude overwhelm senior Veronica says,
“I have received food from ROTOM every month for a very long time now. It always comes in the same quantity and they have never missed a month. The food has helped me a lot because I am now very weak and sickly. I can no longer till the land like I used to. Also, I have a very small plot of land and the food it produces is not even enough to last my grandchildren and me through one month. Sometimes, we have no harvest because of the bad weather and pests which destroy the crops. The increasing prices of foodstuffs these days has worsened the situation for many older people like me. We cannot afford to buy anything now with the little money we may have.
Senior Maria did not have a mattress or bed. So, she slept on the floor of her house. She had to gather old clothes that she used as a soft surface to lie on. Also she had an old blanket that she used to cover herself with but she was experiencing a discomfort during her sleep. ROTOM, through the help of her supporting friend, blessed senior Maria with a mattress, bedsheets and a blanket. In her own words, she says, "I feel new and refreshed. I am so thankful for these gifts. I will now sleep very comfortably on my new bed that I love so much."
Is to empower older persons and their dependents in the attainment of a better life, through the love of Jesus Christ; regardless of their personal faith.
In 2002, Kenneth Mugayehwenkyi was living and working in the USA; while his wife Miriam and their 4 boys waited to join him from their native Uganda. During this time, Kenneth and Miriam sponsored two Ugandan girls who were in the care of their elderly grandmother, Elizabeth. The girls' parents having died, Elizabeth was alone in caring for her young grandchildren. Government assistance for the elderly, such as social security, pensions, insurance, medical care, disability and other entitlement programs do not exist in Uganda. Thus, senior adults are dependent on the previous generation to help meet their basic needs; however, in the aftermath of the HIV/AIDS crisis and numerous wars, many elder adults find themselves caring for their grandchildren without the health and resources needed for either generation to thrive.
While visiting his family in Uganda and their sponsor children, Kenneth discovered that Elizabeth and her granddaughters were living in a dilapidated shack. A structure that appeared on the brink of collapse. He immediately sought to remedy their situation and within 2 weeks, Kenneth had gathered the resources and constructed a simple home for Elizabeth. Upon returning to the states, Kenneth began to mobilize support from friends in Pennsylvania in order to help other grandmothers that he had met through his friendship with Elizabeth. He felt like his eyes had been opened to the dire situation of the elderly in Uganda and his heart burned to alleviate their distress. With help from friend, Gwen Kahler, Kenneth saw that God had changed his heart and he no longer felt compelled to bring his family to the US; but he felt called home to relieve the suffering of seniors in Uganda, whom the world seemed to have forgotten.
Thus, Edmund Kenneth Mugayehwenkyi with the support of his wife Miriam, launched Reach One Touch One Ministries in October of 2003.
OUR OFFICIAL LAUNCH IN UGANDA
Working together, Miriam supported their family financially; while Kenneth commenced the relational investments needed to start the Reach One Touch One ministry. He began with daily visits with Elizabeth, in a desire to learn her story and alleviate her pervasive loneliness. Through their relationship, Kenneth was soon introduced to several other senior ladies, affectionately called "Grannies," who shared the same story of loss, pain, loneliness and poverty. Recognizing his own limitations amidst the depth of need, Kenneth asked Elizabeth if they could all meet at her home weekly to seek God's guidance. This Weekly Fellowship as it became known, was a safe place to worship, pray and enjoy the camaraderie of others. It became so popular that attendees were reluctant to leave.
These senior adults offered Kenneth a glimpse into the challenges of raising grandchildren while struggling with aging bodies, poverty and loneliness in a place where healthcare is not available. Kenneth reached out to friends and through their help, started providing meals at the fellowship and working to meet additional needs, as he was able. Kenneth learned that in order to continue these services, he would need to register Reach One Touch One as a legal entity. So he approached long-time friend, Kenneth Kataryeba (Kenneth K) and others who willingly formed the first ROTOM board; making Kenneth K the first Board Chairman. Then in April 2004, Reach One, Touch One Ministries or ROTOM was legally registered as an NGO in Uganda.
ROTOM USA
After learning about Kenneth's plan to return to Uganda and serve the elderly, his friends Gwen Kahler and Jimmy Shoemaker were inspired to financially support his labors. These friends raised funds through connections in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas. These efforts culminated into ROTOM USA in early 2004, becoming ROTOM's first fellowship partner. Colorado Springs, CO was the home of ROTOM USA from 2010 until 2018. Where due to a change in available space, the office was moved to its current location in Monument, CO.
ROTOM CANADA
Kenneth was introduced to Bill and Marlene Wyatt through his former pastor and his wife, Robert and Della Innes of Full Gospel Church in Antigonish, Canada. In 2006, the Wyatt's became the Founding Directors of ROTOM Canada serving as the second fellowship partner.
ROTOM GERMANY
In 2004 and 2005, Kenneth's long-time friends, Siska Wunderlich, Thomas Knierim and Sonja Otto visited the ministry in Uganda. They were moved by the vast needs of the seniors Kenneth was serving and by his passion to alleviate their pain. Upon their return home, these friends rallied others and together they became the first German sponsors. Due to increasing interest and support in Germany, Kenneth realized a more formal structure would be necessary. In 2007, he reached out to his former employer Missionswerk Frohe Botschaft (MFB) and requested their assistance and support. MFB responded well to Kenneth's request and eventually became ROTOM's third fellowship partner.
ROTOM UK
During a visit to Uganda in 2008, Linda Hallett, a grandmother herself, fell in love with ROTOM's work and the elderly it supported. Ms. Hallett made repeated visits to her new friends in Uganda, and on one such visit brought along her childhood friend, Adrienne Shaw. Ms. Shaw was a UK citizen who returned home and mobilized friends to support the work of Reach One, Touch One Ministries. Adrienne soon became the Founding CEO of ROTOM UK, our fourth fellowship partner.
ROTOM ETHIOPIA
In the Summer of 2014, ROTOM Board member, Jay Hartwell was on a mission trip sponsored by The Ascent Church in Monument, Colorado to work with a partner church in Ethiopian called, Debre Zeit Central Town Church. These two communities of faith had been working together for several years. During his visit to the local church, Mr. Hartwell was alarmed at the grave situation facing many of Ethiopia's elderly citizens and the grandchildren who fell under their care. Upon Mr. Hartwell's return to the United States, he began a campaign to champion for these seniors. Ultimately, this initiated ROTOM's expansion into that country; thus ROTOM Ethiopia was established as our fifth fellowship partner.
Organization name
Reach One Touch One Ministries
other names
ROTOM USA
2004
Category
Religion-Related
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Enterprise Zone Credit
Address
430 Beacon Lite Rd Suite 110 - Office DMailing
P.O. Box 327El Paso County, CO, US
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UG