In the fall of 2010, WCI flew Gift, a 5 year-old Ugandan girl, and her mother to Washington, D.C. to repair a hole and an abnormal blood vessel in Gift’s heart that was overwhelming her lungs and taxing her heart.  If these defects had been left uncorrected, Gift would have developed heart failure and lived a very short life. Since then, Gift’s recovery has been remarkable, and to her mom’s delight, she is now enjoying an active and happy childhood.  In May of 2011 at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, this same Ugandan mother talking about her 5-year old daughter reported, “…no more medications, no more lung infections, and she can keep up when playing with all her friends…”

WCI’s Goal is to, within five years, empower, equip, and train local doctors to treat thousands of children like Gift in Uganda.  Nearly 6,000 children are born each year with a correctable congenital heart defect in Uganda. This number is nearly 50,000 each year for all of east Africa. Unfortunately, this entire region currently has no capability to treat children inflicted with these correctable conditions. As a result, they struggle with respiratory infections, heart problems and ultimately die at a very early age.  They all deserve the opportunity for a joyful childhood and a healthy, long life. 

5 Year Goal:
WCI’s Goal is to, EMPOWER, EQUIP, and TRAIN local doctors to treat thousands of children like Gift in Uganda by 2015. The next 2 Years WCI will continue building toward sustainable care for Ugandan children with heart defects, provided by local doctors.

SCOPE
Nearly 6,000 children are born each year with a correctable congenital heart defect in Uganda. This number is nearly 50,000 each year for all of east Africa. Unfortunately, this entire region currently has no capability to treat children inflicted with these correctable conditions. As a result, they struggle with respiratory infections, heart problems and ultimately die at a very early age.

WCI Donor Tiers

Grand Benefactor	$2,500
Benefactor	$1,000
Patron	$500
Friend	$250

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Donate to World Children’s Initiative (WCI) and together we will fuel the health, minds and spirits of the next generation all over the world.

Or to donate via check, please make payable to & mail to:

World Children’s Initiative

Attn: Pratheepan Gulasekaram
World Children’s Initiative
1328 American Way
Menlo Park, CA 94025

World Children’s Initiative is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. WCI’s Federal Tax Identification Number: 20-3907476

Our Partners

UNAA is the largest formal association of Ugandans in the Diaspora. The objectives of the organization are to “Promote the Social, Cultural and Economic Development of the Ugandan Community in North America and beyond.” The Ugandan Community in North America and Canada numbers over 120,000 individuals.

Founded in 1988, the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA), is a community organization for Ugandans and friends in North America, with a particular emphasis on stimulating and encouraging nationwide acquaintance and fellowship among members in North America, Canada, United Kingdom and Uganda.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Starting in November 2011, WCI in a public-private partnership with the Ugandan government and in association with Siemens Medical, has been building a Children’s Heart Center at Mulago Hospital.  Primary construction and equipment of the catheterization lab is projected to be completed by 2012.