SUMMERSIDE – Through inspirational songs and compelling stories, the Watoto Children’s Choir is spreading a message of hope for Africa’s children and is bringing that message to Summerside. Watoto means “the children” in Swahili and these children are on a mission that is taking them on a journey from the West to the East Coast of Canada in 2011.
The Watoto Children's Choir will present their Concert of Hope in Summerside at Three Oaks Senior High School at 7 p.m. on May 10. Concerts of Hope are free, family-friendly events featuring African rhythms and harmonies, which are accented by brilliant costumes and inspirational stories from the children of Watoto Children’s Villages in Uganda, East Africa. Audiences are moved by the music and captivated by the energy of these talented Ugandan children.
A freewill offering will be taken during the performance and opportunity given to sponsor a Watoto child.
Watoto was established in 1994 as a compassionate response to the critical AIDS crisis in Uganda. Today, Watoto is impacting the lives of more than 2,000 children who have been orphaned and abandoned as a result of the AIDS epidemic, civil strife, extreme poverty, or other catastrophic events, by providing for their physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs. The purpose of Watoto is to give these children hope, dignity and meaning.
For this to become an ongoing reality, Watoto’s goal for 2011 is to mobilize 11,000 global sponsors to further increase the number of children rescued from desperate circumstances. With this in mind, Watoto encourages the support of all Canadians to help to change a story for these vulnerable children.
Living Hope is a new Watoto program that has transformed the lives of an estimated 1,200 women in Kampala and 900 women in war torn Gulu in northern Uganda. The target groups are HIV positive single women, returnees from abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army, and teenage mothers. The goal of Living Hope is to restore dignity to vulnerable women.
Watoto’s 2011 Canadian tour features fair trade items for purchase that are made by women in the Living Hope program.
Watoto's purpose is to “Rescue a child, raise a leader, rebuild a nation”.
The Watoto choir’s visit to Summerside is sponsored by the Trinity United Church in Summerside. While on P.E.I., the Watoto Children’s Choir will also be performing at the Sherwood Church of the Nazarene, 40 Woodlawn Dr. in Charlottetown on Wednesday, May 11, and at the Long Creek Church in Cornwall at 7 p.m. on May 12.
For more information about sponsoring a life call the toll-free number 1-888-9-WATOTO, extension 110 or visit the website at www.watoto.com.
It’s great to see the Watoto Children’s Choir spreading their inspiring songs and stories. It is bringing hope and attention to such a great program that has already managed to achieve so much for women and children in Uganda. In Share the Light we feature a variety of organisations and charities to help women and children from around the world. http://www.sheisthelight.com/share-the-light/