About the Calendar:
This calendar is the result of the 2nd Annual HeART for Uganda Art Contest, in which school-age children entered their artwork to raise money for children in Uganda, orphaned by the LRA and Joseph Kony.
The art contest was the brainchild of Suzzy Czarnecki, who enlisted the aid of world-renowned wildlife artist Wyland, to promote the art contest and supply prizes to those children who won.
Suzzy fell in love with the children of Uganda, and was deeply affected by their plight, when she went to Uganda in 2009. She was there to help an organization called Children of the Nations (COTN) build a village for orphaned and destitute children in Lira, Uganda. She returned in 2011 to bring supplies to the children.
COTN is a movement of people committed to "Raising Children Who Transform Nations". They partner with nationals to provide "holistic, Christ-centered care for orphaned and destitute children, enabling them to create positive and lasting change in their nations."
"Today, Children of the Nations is working in the USA, Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda and most recently in Haiti and Nigeria to provide relief for orphaned and destitute children. COTN, through funding primarily from child sponsorship and individual donations, operates homes, schools, farms, skill centers, clinics and village feeding centers in an effort to give quality care to the children. "
The Children's Village in Lira, Uganda is one of their centers for children. COTN purchased the land in 2008. In 2009, the first 7 homes were completed and 59 children moved in. In 2010, working with Ugandan Social Services, COTN identified 26 more orphaned children who moved into the Children's Village. Two school buildings were completed, 176 children from surrounding villages were enrolled at the school, and a farming program was successfully implemented. Today, the children are healthy and happy, due to support from people like you. They currently have built 3 school buildings, with the fourth under construction. The farming program is expanding. Three water wells have been drilled in and around Lira. They dream of having solar panels and a truck to transport supplies in the near future.
To learn more about Children of the Nations, please visit their website www.cotni.org.
The 2013 Calendar is $12.00 plus $3.75 for shipping and handling.
Front Cover
Strong Safari Elephant
Artist: Hunter Scullin, Grade 4, Charles Hoffman Elementary, Running Springs, CA
December 2012
“Chimpanzee”
I did the chimp because it reminded me of how children are playful, crazy, and fun.
Artist: Keaton Gray, Grade 5, The Classical Academy - East Colorado
January 2013
“Grateful For What She Has Made”
My piece of artwork was
inspired by the beautiful
sight one can see every
day in nature. A flower, for
example, seems so common
and ordinary to us. Yet it
consists of many different
processes, pigments, layers
and beauty. All my small
details correlate to the
actual precision and miracle
that nature performs daily.
Again, we usually never take
the time to comprehend all
that a flower is composed
of. I wanted my viewers
to take notice of the small
details expressed through
patterns. No one actually
seems to stop and smell the
rose amidst their continuous
lists of things to do. I believe
nature adds a perfect balance
to one’s life and should be
enjoyed every day. We need
to show more respect to our
mother. We need to be as
kind to her as she has always
been to us.
Artist: Katlin Keltner, Grade 12, Mission Viejo High, Missioin Viejo, CA
February 2013
“Sea Turtle Bay”
This artwork was inspired by
my most memorable and recent
trip to Hawaii. Like a dream, I
swam with sea turtles in a quiet
bay similar to the one I’ve drawn
in my picture. We were there
in the morning, but this is what
I imagine a sunset to look like
there. When you are swimming
with the turtles, it feels as if the
water could stretch on forever.
Unforgettable!
Artist: Emma Melissa,
Grade 6,
Baldwin Elementary,
Big Bear Lake, CA
“
March 2013
“Light in the Shelter of the Forest”
I drew this picture from a photo.
The photo inspired me because
there is nothing as beautiful as a
mother and her baby. The way
the elephants bathe in the warm
sunlight shining down on them is
comforting. This feeling reminds
me that the orphans in Uganda
need the same protection as
the elephant gives to her baby.
When we support and help
these children, we become the
light and protection they need.
Artist: Toree Wright, Grade 8
Big Bear Middle School
Big Bear Lake, CA
April 2013
“Maisha Katika Jangwa” (Life in the Desert)
Through the symbol
of a prosperous tree, I
imagined the Ugandan
children growing
and thriving in the
desert of desperation
and loneliness that
used to rob them of
a future. The sunrise
in the background
represents a new
life, a new day. The
roots of the tree
spell out “HOPE”
because the tree
grew out of the hope
that the children and
the compassionate
people around them
had for the future
of the country’s next
generation. Like this
tree the children of
Uganda will have “Life
in the Desert” with this
new orphanage.
Artist: Breanna Shearin, Grade 9, Hillcrest Christian School, Granada Hills, CA
May 2013
“Michaels Parrot”
When I went on vacation I went
to Las Vegas to go to Prim. When
I went to the mall I saw parrots.
The man had ten parrots,he put
five parrots on my arms and
hands.
Artist: Michael Ramsey,
Grade 3,
Baldwin Elementary,
Big Bear Lake, CA
June 2013
“The Plains”
My inspiration came from seeing the African wilderness. The tree standing alone with the sun’s light reflecting on the land. The beauty the
majesty of the tree and the sun is just magical.
Artist: Gary Bishop, Grade 8, Big Bear Middle School, Big Bear Lake, CA
July 2013
“Ocean Beauty”
What inspired me to draw this
ocean scene was how peaceful
the ocean is when the beach
is empty. With all the waves
crashing gently on the sand and
the sun setting over the water,
it’s very peaceful and beautiful.
I hope the orphans get adopted
soon.
Artist: Noah Foor,
Grade 5,
Baldwin Elementary,
Big Bear Lake, CA
August 2013
“My Fun Place”
I was having fun with my family
at the beach. I was playing in the
sand and found a starfish in the
water. I saw pelicans and ducks
diving in the water for fish.
Artist: Collin Bunsold
Grade K
Mission Hills Elementary
Escondido, CA
September 2013
“The Cheetah in the Sunset”
I was inspired to draw the
cheetah because he has
all different shapes and
sizes of spots. None of
the spots are the same,
just like people, we are all
unique and different.
Artist: Kaylin Gray,
Grade 2,
The Classical Academy,
East Colorado
October 2013
“Dancing in the Tall Grass”
I love to read, and I
recently read a book
about a family in
Booneville, Missouri,
bound for Oregon. The
family watched fireflies
dancing in the tall grass
near their home. This
reminded me of evenings
camping with my parents
and six siblings, and
all of the wonderful
encounters you can have
in nature.
Artist: Olivia Kehoe - Grade 6, Golden Hill Elementary, Fullerton, CA
November 2013
“Peaceful Lake”
I drew a lake because lakes very peaceful with all the nature, beauty, and ducks. I hope that God brings peace to Africa.
Artist: Haley Foor, Grade 3, Baldwin Elementary, Big Bear Lake
December 2013
“The Light of the Moon”
I love the light of the moon shining on the snow. It makes it like daylight at nighttime when the moon is full. The snow is like a blanket making
things quiet. Maybe the children in Uganda have never seen snow.
Artist: Jesee Stalcup, Grade K, Big Bear Elementary, Big Bear Lake, CA
January 2014
“The Sunny River Hippo”
I drew the hippo in a river
so I can capture the light,
I drew it’s body under the
water and it’s head floating
on top. I love how hippo’s
do that. The hippo is from
Africa and all the proceeds
go to the orphan children
in Africa so I thought it
would be neat. Hippo’s
are very protective of their
young children. I think
protecting children is very
important.
Artist: Elle Williams, Grade 5, River Springs Charter School
Proceeds will go to Children's Village, Lira, Uganda
http://www.cotni.org/
