The energetic, inspirational Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda will perform a concert of hope for victims of Africa’s AIDS crisis on Friday, April 9, in Red Deer.
The family-friendly event at the Deer Park Alliance Church is free, but donations will be collected for the African children who have been orphaned or abandoned because of the AIDS epidemic, civil strife or dire poverty.
Through moving stories and harmonic performances in brilliant costumes, the children’s choir is helping support the physical, emotional, spiritual, and educational needs of about 2,000 children in Uganda, East Africa. Watoto aims to give these young people renewed hope, purpose, dignity and meaning.
Child sponsorship will be available at the concert and Fair Trade items will be offered for purchase. The items are made by about 2,000 women supported by Watoto’s Living Hope program.
Living Hope is transforming the lives of an estimated 1,200 women in Kampala and 900 women in war-torn Gulu in Northern Uganda who are either HIV-positive, former abductees by the resistance army, or teenage mothers.
Watoto, which means “the children” in Swahili, was started in 1994 as a compassionate response to Uganda’s AIDS crisis. The organization’s mission is to “rescue a child, raise a leader, rebuild a nation.” More information about Watoto is available at www.watoto.com.
The 7 p.m. concert is at 2960 39th St.