|PIC1|The choir, composed of 9 boys and 9 girls from the slums of Uganda, Africa, is only a small fraction of the large number of children in Africa who have had their lives raped by AIDS, poverty, and abandonment. These children, now filled with joy and hope, have been given a second chance through Watoto Child Care Ministries in Uganda. Mark Bradshaw, Watoto Director for Australasia, says that many of these children come into Watoto with emotional scars, also suffering from hunger, isolation and abandonment.
The choir has performed in front of US President George Bush at the White House, the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and even at Australia's own Parliament House in 2006. And now in 2009, these children with hearts of gold have the privilege of walking the same streets as the gold medal winners of 2008.
"Children who are selected to tour on a Watoto Choir get an opportunity of a lifetime as they get to share their story and the hope they now have. Being on tour helps the kids develop life skills and confidence to become the future leaders of their country that they inspire to be" Bradshaw says.
2007 stats from www.unaids.org show that of the 33million people globally affected by HIV, Sub-Saharan Africa contains 67% of that 33million. Even more startling is the fact that of all the deaths in Africa to children below 5 years of age, 1/3 of those deaths are HIV caused.
According to Mark Bradshaw, Watoto is different from other organizations in that their core goal is not to just rescue children from poverty and disease but to help them rise above it and become part of the new leadership required in their country in whatever field they inspire to become. In this, they can change their society by providing strong businesses and work ethics with integrity and strong moral standings.
This is the first time that the Watoto Children's choir has ever been to Beijing, and for all of the kids, the first time ever stepping foot out of Africa. After Beijing, the choir will make their way to Shanghai and Hong Kong, and then over to Australia in May where they will hold free concerts around places such as Sydney, Perth, Darwin, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Melbourne, and even a combined concert in June with the Ernabella children's choir.
To find out more about the work of Watoto in Africa or to get involved, check out www.watoto.com.