Ugandan Children's Choir Performs In Lakewood

UNICEF and UNAIDS approximate that 50 million orphans live in sub-Saharan Africa, one-quarter of whom have lost their parents to AIDS. 2.5 million of those children live in Uganda.

Watoto is a holistic care program that was initiated as a response to this overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Uganda, whose lives have been ravaged by war, poverty and disease. Its goal is to raise the children as leaders in their chosen sphere of life so that they in turn will rebuild their nation. The Watoto program involves physical and medical care, education, trauma counseling and spiritual discipleship.

Children who live in Watoto Children’s villages have the opportunity to join choirs that travel the globe to increase awareness of the plight of orphaned children in Africa. Each of the children in the choir has suffered the loss of their parents either through war or disease. This experience gives the children exposure to other cultures broadening their worldview. It also gives them confidence and boldness to rise up out of their own situations of sadness and despair.

Accompanied by a team of adults, the choir presents Watoto’s vision and mission through their stories, music and dance. Watoto choirs act as ambassadors to raise awareness about the plight of the orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa.  Watoto Children’s Choirs have travelled internationally since 1994, performing in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.

Liberation United Church of Christ is proud to present the Watoto Children’s Choir in a performance of a unique blend of native African rhythms, contemporary gospel and ethnic dance. The free concert was held on Friday, January 7, 2011.