Posted on August 29, 2008 - by Frank

Watoto Choir in New Zealand

Vibrant costumes, infectious smiles and stories that will move and inspire you – the Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda will visit Auckland and it is an event not to miss.

The 18 boys and girls in the choir, all aged between seven and 13, are orphans and are being raised through the Watoto project in Uganda. However, this is not a concert of despair. Watoto Child Care Ministries in Kampala, Uganda, was founded in 1992 to provide homes for parentless children. Watoto now cares for more than 1700 children, placing them into safe and loving families of eight foster brothers and sisters.

Local Christian aid and development agency, TEAR Fund has been fundraising and organising Watoto events since 2004.

A Watoto concert is full of music, dance and song. TEAR Fund Event’s manager Andrew Robinson said the choir is a testimony to the positive change that can be effected when people choose to invest in the lives of the poor. “It’s a fun event for the whole family and you are guaranteed to leave with your feet dancing and your heart touched by these vivacious children,” Mr Robinson said.

The Watoto choir and project has become well-known around the world and over recent years the choir has performed for the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and for US President George Bush.

Watoto Child Care Ministries is expanding its project into northern Uganda, previously closed due to the atrocities of war. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has been raiding villages, killing parents and abducting children who are forced into service as soldiers. It is estimated that as many as 50,000 children have been abducted in Northern Uganda. They are establishing a similar village in Gulu to help care and rehabilitate these young victims of war.

The concert with the Watoto children is a free event and all are welcome to attend. Donations are gratefully received with all proceeds going to help care for parentless and at-risk children in Uganda. The expenses of running the tour are covered by the sale of Watoto merchandise including CDs and African jewellery.

Free Concert Dates

Manurewa
7pm
Saturday September 6
Manurewa Marae
81 Findlayson Ave, Manurewa

Glenfield
10.30am
Sunday, September 7
Life City Church, 16B Poland Road, Glenfield, North Shore

Avondale
6.30pm
Sunday September 7
Encounter Christian Centre, 495 Rosebank Road, Avondale

Te Awamutu
7.30pm
Tuesday September 9
Te Awamutu Bible Chapel, Chapel Drive, Te Awamutu

Tauranga
7pm
Wednesday September 10
Bethlehem College Auditorium, 24 Elder Lane, Bethlehem

Warkworth
7pm
Tuesday, September 16
Lifeway College, 20 Goodall Road, Snells Beach

Doubtless Bay
7pm
Wednesday September 17
Doubtless Bay Christian Centre
7 Mill Bay Road, Doubtless Bay, Northland

Kerikeri
7pm
Thursday September 18
Frontline Christian Centre, 119 Hone Heke Rd

Whangarei
7pm
Friday September 19
St Pauls Kamo Co-op Parish, Corner Boswell Street and Station Road, Kamo, Whangarei

Pakuranga
7pm
Saturday September 20
Eastgate Christian Centre, 5 Ben Lomond Crescent

Auckland Central
10am, 5pm, & 7pm
Sunday September 21
C3: Christian City Church, 145 Newton Rd, Eden Terrace