WHO WE ARE
The heart of Yotkom can be summed up in four simple statements:
TO LOVE
TO GO
TO SERVE
TO REFLECT Jesus Christ
Doctor Andrew and Anne Wright are the Australian founding directors of Yotkom Uganda. They have drawn a significant sense of life direction, motivation, meaning and purpose from their understanding and experience of the Christian faith, with a particular focus on the person and work of Jesus and what it means to be His disciple in the world.
The Bible, the guidebook for the Christian community, is full of teachings which challenge its readers to live out their faith by being involved in areas of social action and by responding to injustice and the needs of our neighbours in the global community.
In 2001, Andrew and Anne felt drawn or "called" to medical mission in the developing world, specifically in the Kitgum District of Northern Uganda. Their first visit to the region was life changing and moving as they were confronted by a hurting community ravaged by 15 years of civil war. They were shocked and saddened when they witnessed firsthand the reality of war atrocities, high levels of infectious disease and the impact of HIV/AIDs on children and families. There was also a stark scarcity of trained medical staff to respond to this burden of suffering in sub Saharan Africa.
Over several years, strong trusting relationships were forged with health professionals and leaders in the community. In Australia, others came alongside to encourage and help. Andrew and Anne discovered the power of working in community to achieve a vision.
In 2008 an Australian/Ugandan partnership was formalised through the creation of Yotkom .
(an Acholi word meaning HEALTH)
Yotkom became registered as a non government organisation with the primary purpose of improving access and excellence in primary healthcare to the community of Northern Uganda.
Funds have been donated in Australia to build the independently administered Yotkom Medical Centre which opened in October 2015.
Andrew and Anne were both awarded an Order of Australia (AM) by the Australian Government in 2017
for "significant service to international relations and to the health and wellbeing of the Acholi people of Northern Uganda"