UGANDAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR LANDS IN CHICAGO

The Watoto Children’s Choir, is a group of 18 exceptional orphans from Uganda, Africa who have been traveling and performing throughout the United States since 1994. The children love to go on tour to share and express their life stories through worship songs in cities like Houston and Chicago. Photo Credit: The Watoto Children’s Choir
The Watoto Children’s Choir, is a group of 18 exceptional orphans from Uganda, Africa who have been traveling and performing throughout the United States since 1994. The children love to go on tour to share and express their life stories through worship songs in cities like Houston and Chicago. Photo Credit: The Watoto Children’s Choir

UGANDAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR LANDS IN CHICAGO

By Christopher Shuttlesworth

The Watoto Children’s Choir, is a group of 18 exceptional orphans from Uganda, Africa who have been traveling and performing throughout

the United States since 1994. The children’s choir began their 2017 tour, which featured worship songs about their life stories and their love for

God in January in the Houston area, but will perform in Chicago at Bethany Union Church, located on 1750 W. 103rd St.) on July 8, and at

the Christian Life Center (6363 W. 183rd St. in Tinley Park, Illinois, on July 9.

Aubrey Hudson, who is the communications director of the Watoto Children’s Choir in Uganda, said the organization has been caring for about 2,900 orphans for more than 20 years. She said each child in the choir has suffered a loss of one or more parents, and in some cases

have been left with their grandparents who couldn’t care for them while others have been left abandoned.

Hudson continued to explain that once the Watoto staff finds the children, they are brought to Watoto villages and placed into homes with six brothers and sisters under a caring mother.

“These children go from living on the streets or being abandoned as babies to being given holistic full-time care and physical necessities,”

she said. “They also, receive education and are given job opportunities when they graduate. So, we’re really setting these kids up for the future in hopes that they will give back to the community in Uganda.”

Hudson added, “What’s really cool now is that we’re seeing children who came into the program as babies graduate and get jobs. Our

first Watoto child graduated last year and is now an accountant in downtown Kampala, which is the capital of Uganda.”

Hudson said the 18 children who performed in the choir, love to go on tour and learn about different U.S. cultures.

“These children have never traveled outside of Uganda before so they spend several months ahead of time training and practicing their

music, but also, getting educated on U.S. culture and what to expect,” Hudson continued. “A lot of them said they were looking forward to trying

sandwiches the most out of everything.” She also, said this travelling experience helps some children come out of their quiet shells and share their stories through song with U.S. citizens.

“It’s an unbelievable experience for them,” Hudson said. “We’ve found that children who tour with the choir have more confidence and

become very outgoing. So, this is an opportunity for them to experience a different culture and a different learning environment, but also, gives

them an opportunity to share their story in the U.S. and connect with people here.”

For more information, visit www.watoto. com/choir/.

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