THE AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR

On the 3 rd of December the African Children’s Choir will be coming to perform at St Joseph’s College. So who are they….? And What do they do…?

THE AFRICAN’S CHILDREN CHOIR The choir originates from Uganda in 1984 It is a large choir made up of children ages 7 to 12 from several African nations. Since its inception, the choir has included children from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana.

THE AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR Many of the children have lost one or both parents to AIDS and other poverty-related diseases, and all of them are victims of extreme poverty.

THE AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR The Choir was founded in 1984 by Ray Barnett. Barnett was travelling in war-torn Uganda when he gave a small boy a ride from his destroyed home to a safer village. During their journey, the child did what he knew how to do best – he sang. That simple song of dignity and hope became the catalyst for a program that has changed the lives of thousands of children. From there the African Children's Choir was born. Rallying support from the west, Barnett conducted the first tour, in As the organisation grew so did the needs of the children. The choir began selecting Kenyan children in By 2002, the first South African choir toured in North America. Music for Life has now facilitated over forty tours through the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

THE AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR The choir serves as the main fund raising branch for its parent organisation, Music For Life Institute, with proceeds from the choir's work used to fund education and relief efforts for African children affected by poverty and disease. Over 7,000 children in several African nations are currently being supported through the program.

PROGRAMMES CREATED BY THE MONEY RAISED MUSIC FOR LIFE CENTERS The Music for Life program runs in 12 Centers, (10 in South Africa, 2 in Uganda), where they work with approximately 50 children in each center. These children have either been orphaned by AIDS, or have parents that can no longer care for and provide for them, or who are in the care of aged grandparents who are unable to effectively care for them.Uganda Music for Life Centers provides music, dance, life skills, as well as nutrition and education (many of the centres are actually based in schools). TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGE In Sudan, where the infrastructure was decimated by civil war, Music For Life is rebuilding the educational system by providing training for new teachers throughout the country. 12 MILLION ORPHANS 12 Million Orphans is an educational campaign representing the over 12 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. The program lobbies and cares for some of these children, provides information on this vulnerable sector, and focuses the world's attention on their issues. The main program to reach these children is the Music for Life Centers.

PERFORMANCES They performed in the Commonwealth band along with the Military Wives at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Ceremony 1Q

WHERE IT COLOURS DAY To raise money for the Children’s African Choir the Charities Committee have organised a wear it colours day on Friday 21st of November, where you can wear an item of clothing in the colours of the Ugandan flag. The cost is £1 which will be donated to the choir to help maintain their projects in Africa.

WE ASK A FAVOUR We ask that each Enrichment class creates Ugandan bunting to place around the school for when our guests arrive. Each Enrichment class can choose the shape of their bunting to make it unique – all we ask it is in the colours of the Ugandan flag. We hope you will get involved and look forward to seeing your creations…..

YOUR HELP WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE Lets help the African Children’s Choir to raise money to end poverty in Africa