Gill and Carlos Olaaka

Gill and Carlos Olaaka are based in Kampala, Uganda, and are Associates with Crosslinks. Gill, (nee Murphy, originally from Ireland) first came to Uganda in April 2001 under a SMILE/Oasis joint programme, and spent five months in a voluntary capacity in a team with four others.

She returned to Uganda in April 2002 to act as Team Coordinator overseeing volunteers and teams on short term mission in Uganda. From then, until July 2011 when she left Oasis for extended maternity leave, she worked in various capacities with Oasis Uganda, including running Bambejja, a programme for vulnerable orphaned girls and their families living in slums, and serving as Country Director from July 2007.

Gill married Carlos Olaaka in November 2004 and their first born son Josiah, was born in July 2011. After maternity leave, while prioritising care of Josiah, Gill began new part time work. She currently works in Abaana, as well as supporting Frontline, a street children’s ministry under Calvary Chapel Kampala. Both are Christian ministries looking to help vulnerable children, including street boys, to give a hope and a future to those excluded, abandoned, or in abject poverty.

Abaana’s activities include sponsorship of children, building of schools, as well as support of former street boys through the New Life Homes. Gill’s role in both these ministries, which partner in the area of street children activities, is to look at strategy, policy, capacity building, staff development, and governance. Abaana and Frontline both focus on the importance of spiritual transformation, always pointing children to the need for them to know Jesus and have a relationship with him, and using the Bible as the cornerstone for all activity.

Carlos and Gill are active members of Calvary Chapel Kampala, involved in coordinating our Married Fellowship together, with Carlos on the prayer team and Gill involved in choir, and attending a women’s bible study.

Whilst working for Oasis, Gill received funding through Crosslinks from Irish Aid, for which they are very grateful. They also appreciate every individual who supports them financially, emotionally and spiritually.

For information about Oasis, please see www.oasisuganda.org; about Abaana, www. abaana.org