The unique work of providing training to police officers and government officials in areas such as ethics, officer safety and child protection programs are one of several ways we are changing the lives of children who need loving support, care and education. Through our concept of "training the trainers" we are improving how those in positions of authority can carry on the work themselves while we are back in the United States preparing new teams to return to provide additional training and assistance in developing schools and orphanages. Your generous donations go directly to this training and also provide for school supplies, tuition and teachers in Uganda and Sudan.
Our approach is unique and our mission is clear. Our teams seek to bring relief and assistance to children and orphans in Southern Sudan and Northern Uganda. With the effects of Genocide in Darfur, Sudan has many needs for orphanages, medical aid, clean water, and schools. In Northern Uganda remote areas make it difficult for children to receive an education or quality medical care. We work alongside of existing medical outreaches, schools and orphanages to enhance the effectiveness of this much needed work. We seek to raise funding to directly help these outreaches but we also roll up our sleeves and work to bring law enforcement and government officials into our efforts. By exchanging our expertise with local police officers and command staff we develop friendships and encourage direct involvement with the children in their villages and communities.
As in all countries the people we are serving live in communities that suffer from child abuse, alcoholism, and domestic violence. One of the ways we provide long term care is to train police officers in Sudan and Uganda in methods of prevention and education. Through developing skills in Community Oriented Policing we take police officers on field exercises directly into schools to build trust with children and parents. As we "train the trainers" these officers are able to provide the much needed security for children and assist their families. Many of these children have never known what it is like to feel "safe." Many no longer have the comforting arms of a mother or father to fall into.
Financial Giving: We would very much welcome your help with "Operation Safe Child". You may be able to give a monthly tax deductible donation of $100 or more and some may be able to give $25 a month. Even generous one time donations assist us in providing school supplies, Christian education, and secure safe communities for hundreds of children in remote areas of Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan. If giving through our secure "You Can Help" link selecting "Dave McDowell" designates your funds to this work with Operation Safe Child. If contributing by mail simply indicate: "Dave McDowell - Operation Safe Child".
As the Director of International Police Training and Outreach for Safe Harbor International, this work is definitely not about "me". It could not be done without the expertise of those who make up our teams. Since 1990 we have been working to take small teams of U.S. police officers, chaplains, nurses, and doctors to parts of the world where people have been marginalized due to war or hard economic times. Since 2006 I have been developing teams to work under the goals established by Safe Harbor International that fall under their "Training" mandate. We are all about helping children and giving them a safe environment to grow.
Why are Sudan and Uganda important to the world? We believe we should address the needs of any people in the world that we would call the least, the last, and the lost. However, some will question why we would help people so far away in a country that appears to have no bearing on how we live in the United States. Let me share now some thoughts from some of my experiences on the ground in Darfur that have led to our present outreach efforts. Read more of our on the ground experiences...
OUR VIDEO: Thank you for taking the time to look over our
website but make sure to CLICK HERE to watch a professionally produced 5 minute video of our work in Sudan.
Our Blog: Click on our Blog link to the left for articles from my expeirences in Sudan as well as news links from around the world covering daily news coming out of Sudan!
If you have any further questions please contact me directly using our CONTACT FORM. Thank you for caring to make a difference in the world one person at a time!
– Dave