In Gulu, a city in northern Uganda , rebels have terrorized the land for twenty years, killing, raping, pillaging and burning.  They kidnapped many children, murdered their families and forced them into their army.  Some of these children escaped, but have no place to go and no means of support.  Other orphaned children wander the countryside looking for help because parents died of AIDS, malaria, dysentery, or other diseases. The Reverend Otto Naptali, an Anglican clergyman and a Ugandan, was moved to do something about the pitiful plight of the countless orphans.  He and his wife, Filder, began by taking children into their modest house in Gulu.  When the number reached eleven, they were forced to turn down requests from the desperate  children who came to their door daily.  They decided to ask family and friends to form a group to start the Keziya Orphanage Home (KOH).  Pooling their meager resources, the group has been able to care for forty more children by constructing thatched mud huts on vacant land and housing the children there with some adult supervision.  The children are so grateful for a daily meal and shelter.  They are really excited about the opportunity to go to school; education is greatly valued in Uganda .  Since It costs money to attend school, it is a privilege.  Rev. Otto and his Board feel it is a necessity for their children to learn and become productive citizens.

In 2005, Shared Blessings undertook a sponsorship program for KOH in Gulu.Presently, over forty children are being sponsored.  A goat project has begun and there are hopes that this fledging business will generate income for the orphanage. There is also the beginning of a bee project for selling honey and a poultry project with chickens and turkeys to provide eggs and dinners for the children. Several representatives from the Shared Blessings Board have visited the Keziya Orphanage Home in Gulu and another trip is planned for January, 2011. Everyone has been impressed by the strong and courageous spirit of Rev. Otto and his wife, who operate in the midst of dire need and devastating daily life conditions. They are working so hard to help others around them, even while they themselves have so little. Recently, Otto and Filder moved out of their modest house to live in a mud hut so they can be closer to some of the children they care for. Construction has started on a dormitory that will hold about forty children and house parents. This will give a better life to those children now living in thatched huts, and most likely children from the streets will then occupy the huts. Our financial help to build the dormitory and our sponsorship help to the children is making a wonderful difference in the lives of so many.