A musical group of African orphans is returning to Vernon this weekend to spread its message of hope.
Watoto, a holistic care program, initiated to serve the dire needs of Africa and her people, is in Canada on a brand new tour entitled Beautiful Africa: A New Generation.
The six-month Canadian tour, which began on Vancouver Island last month, features 22 children and 10 adults, who are travelling as far as Quebec, performing in more than 130 communities along the way.
Watoto stops in Vernon Sunday to perform their vibrant and original African music, dance and life-transforming stories at the Alliance Church.
“The tour is a testimony of the new generation of leaders emerging out of Watoto,” said Karen Shepherd, public relations with Watoto Canada.
The tour has already proven to be an exciting one for the group. On Jan. 26, they stepped onto the ice at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver and sang the Canadian and U.S. national anthems before the Canucks and Coyotes game.
To prepare the choir for the cultural experience of hockey, members were taken to Sports Traders in Victoria for a photo shoot. There, staff helped outfit choir members with both equipment and jerseys.
Established in 1994, The Watoto Children’s Choir has travelled internationally as ambassadors for the millions of children in Africa, orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, war and poverty.
“Watoto’s purpose is to rescue the vulnerable, raise them up to be leaders, so they can rebuild their nation. For this to become an ongoing reality, Watoto relies on the support of Canadians to sponsor a life and impact their future,” said Shepherd.
Each of the children in the choir has suffered the loss of one or both parents. They live in Watoto Children’s Villages, where they receive the care and nurture they need to grow up as productive citizens of their country.
Today, Watoto is impacting the lives of more than 3,000 children who have been orphaned and abandoned.
Watoto’s performance starts at 7 p.m. Sunday at Vernon Alliance Church, 2601-43rd Ave. The concert is free and open to the public. See watotocanada.com for more info.
