The Clarkston High School auditorium is set to ring with voices of youth and hope for a better future.
On June 29 at 7 p.m., the African Children’s Choir (ACC), hosted by the Clarkston Free Methodist Church, will perform in hopes of bringing attention to the AIDS pandemic in Africa.
The choir consists of approximately 25 African children ages 7 ? 11 who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
‘The purpose is to raise money to support orphaned African kids so they can help Africa later,? said CFMC member Ed Santala, who co-chaired the event with Clancy Thompson.
There is no admission charge for the event, but a goodwill offering will be collected, said Santala.
According to the ACC Web site, financial gifts help support the ongoing choir programs allowing new choirs to tour each year and past members to enter into care and education programs. The program also helps build schools and deliver education to Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
The choir performs Christian music with most songs in English and a few in native African languages.
‘They have very nice African attire. They also dance while they sing and are a very energetic with great harmony and drums? They love what they’re doing, it shows on their faces,? said Santala’s wife Sharron, who was moved by the plight of African children during mission work through CFMC.
Members of CFMC became aware of the choir following a project in Tanzania last year helping build a school and supporting its 147 students, explained Santala.
‘The importance is what it’s doing for the kids who are orphans. The kids in Africa that we sponsor, some only get one meal per day,? said Sharron. ‘It’s so hard to believe in 2006 there are people that don’t have electricity and sanitary conditions and so many die of disease.
‘If we can educate these kids, they can make a better Africa tomorrow,? said Sharron.
The Santala’s, like many CFMC members, plan to house some of the choir members and adults while they are in town. The choir will also use the church facilities for their school during their two day stay.
As stated on the African Children’s Choir Web site, ACC started in 1984 when human rights worker Ray Barnett visited northern Uganda after seeing a BBC news report about 150,000 starving children there and wanted to help. After hearing a young boy in Uganda sing, Barnett brought the ACC back to Vancouver, British Columbia to communicate the situation in Uganda back to others.
For more information on the African Children’s Choir visit www.africanchildrenschoir.com or e-mail at info@africanchildrenschoir.com.