There Is Always Something To Be Grateful For

I need to remember this more often, especially on days like these, when I arrive home late from my work and I start my second work…

I have had a beautiful day, filled with good news, balanced activities from all sides, and good friends pouring their energy into beautiful acts of kindness.

I am tired, hungry and my head hurts a bit 😄 but we fed 30 children today, we nurtured 3 more back to health, and we are resting in the contemplation of the people’s kindness.

It’s a good day.

Work lovingly done by Veronica Anghelescu and Mugoya Swaliki

Lovely media by Mihaela Florentina Stoica

Everlasting kindness by #hoctfamily

Joyful Friday

What a rich day of work has it been! We’ve accomplished so much. Sometimes, no more words are needed. Our work speaks for itself.

Work lovingly done by Mugoya Swaliki and Veronica Anghelescu
Media by Mihaela Florentina Stoica
Love by HOCT Friends and Family

The Colors of Love

At HOCT, we welcome children of all ages and colors: White, black, albino. Of all religions: Muslim, Christian, Born-Again. Of all ages, from infancy to 18 years old.

Those who smile and those who do not smile. Those who are cute and those who have burn-marks on their face.

To care for a child is the most beautiful, the most meaningful act of kindness we can do in our wounded world. I wish I could help those harmed in battle, but I cannot reach them. I am in this corner of the world and I do my part here.

At HOCT, we work with our heart. We are color-blind.

Work lovingly done by Veronica Anghelescu and Mugoya Swaliki

Media by Mihaela Stoica

A Day With Everything

Sometimes, everything happens. We’ve had a day with bad weather and sunny weather, with plenty of children coming to pick their food, with new (heartbreaking) cases, with children smiling and others fearing the camera, with severely sick and joyously healthy ones. So much happens in a day, and we work our way through it with patience, with love and understanding.

Look at that boy called Joseph. His head is oddly shaped, but he is not mentally disabled. He is a good, sensitive and smart child and he is very grateful that a sponsor accepted him.

And look at that little girl, called Gift! Such a special name. It is the first time in my life (and hers) that I see her smiling. It brings such joy to my heart.

It has been a hard day of work, but beautiful and full of accomplishments; I am grateful.

Work lovingly done by Veronica Anghelescu and Mugoya Swaliki

Media by Mihaela Stoica

RAINY SEASON

In Uganda, the monsoon season typically occurs in two main periods: the first one is the long rainy season, and the second is the short rainy season. These rainy seasons are driven by the movement of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone and the influence of the Indian Ocean monsoon.

Now, the rainy season is in progress and it makes our life a little bit hellish as the children struggle through muddy roads to come pick their food, and we also struggle to procure the necessary products. We are a bit behind with work, but each day we work with great love and gratitude, that such kindness exists in our world.

We get to feed a child: our effort is so much worth…

Collage by Mihaela Stoica

Work accomplished with love by Veronica Anghelescu and Mugoya Swaliki, together with HOCT Family

Beautiful Work!

We are starting the month of November with a joyful heart. Such happiness to see those wonderful children receive the gifts from their long-distance parents! Blessings to all of you!

I am also very glad for the help of my friend, Mihaela, who makes those wonderful collages for HOCT. Keep up the splendid work!

HARD DAYS

We have had a few hard days at HOCT, that have greatly tried my patience, but finally the sun is shining once again. It really is so amazing how my mind goes to absolute hell whenever HOCT is not working. Truth is, we rarely have glitches, which are not in our power to fix. Those past few days, a banking error has made the transfers unavailable; apart from that, my colleague was immensely stressed by the fact that his family was unwell.

Finally, all the problens reached a good resolution and we are slowly picking up energy and resuming our beautiful work. I will not feature any new cases until the end of this month, because we have a lot to catch up. If at any moment you want to do a good deed, we have 202 children on our waiting lists, who have no sponsors, so you can always send 10 euros for one such child (and HOCT will add 5 euros more).

The struggle and effort necessary to accomplish the HOCT work usually remain behind the scenes, but every now and then I feel the need to talk about it, and also to praise the good, honest, beautiful work of my colleague who never takes a single day off.

The world at large goes through difficult moments right now. We all watch and cry within our hearts as people are crushed by the senselessness of wars. But there is also good, and kindness, and beauty in our world; not everything is ugly; and, as Tolkien says, it is worth fighting for it. For that corner of beauty, that each of us can build.

A humanitarian organization working to give the children of Uganda a better life, education and healthcare