Since May, the Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda, East Africa, has been touring throughout Australia and New Zealand and performing free concerts.
Last week, it was the chance for the Tweed Coast to play host to these delightful children..
Kingscliff Public School played host in the morning of August 10, with the choir moving on to Pottsville that same evening.
The Concert of Hope raises awareness of the plight of parentless children and widowed mothers in Uganda – a country that has experienced many years of destruction and despair.
All 22 children, aged eight to 13, have lost either one or both of their parents to AIDS, war, famine or abandonment. They captivated their audiences, both young and old, with their vibrant authentic African costumes, beautiful voices, powerful dances and personal stories and showed the young local students what they now have after being rescued by Watoto Childcare Ministries.
“I lost my Father to AIDS when I was a little girl and my mother was abducted from the rebels during the war in Northern Uganda,” 13-year-old Irene said.
“I was left to the care of my Grandmother in the IDP camp. I would sometimes go to school but, because we had no school fees, I was turned away most of the time.
“My Grandmother grew very weary. One day she heard about Watoto and asked them for help. Today in Watoto I attend school, get fed and have a new Mother. When I grow up I want to be a nurse so that I am able to help others.”
Watoto was founded by Gary and Marilyn Skinner, pastors from Canada, in the 1980s and currently cares for over 2000 children in villages built by teams that come from all over the world.
In these villages the children are put into homes with a new mother, who is a widow herself and with seven other new brothers and sisters.
Families from all over the world sponsor these children so that they can receive all their daily needs.
There are three villages: Bbira and Suubi villages are in Kampala, Uganda’s capital; and Laminadera Village, which is in the northern, war-torn Gulu district of Uganda.
Each village also has a school, babies’ home, medical centre and teacher’s accommodation.
Craig Blackburn, who co-ordinated the Concert of Hope in both Tweed Coast villages, said the stories and music really seemed to touch people.
“Our family had been to two concerts before, one at Seagulls and the other at Banora Point High in recent years,” he said.
“We were impressed and inspired by precious young children who now have a lot to live for.
“We made an official request during April 2010 and the national organisers fitted us into the 2011 Australian tour.
“I was given the responsibility of finding appropriate venues (Kingscliff Public and Pottsville Beach Public Schools), locating nine host homes who would accommodate an Aunty or Uncle plus two or three children, and then advertising within those communities.”
He said The Concert of Hope on Wednesday was attended by hundreds of people, many children and adults. The responses have been overwhelmingly positive, and a few concerns have surfaced as well.
“My children were disappointed that the Choir couldn’t stay another day to spend more time with these beautiful children,” Craig said.
“How privileged we were to hear them sing so sweetly and watch them dance so dynamically.
“People have been so moved by their stories that they are engaged to help with sponsorship and practical assistance.
“We want them to come back again,the sooner the better!”
