Kids from the African Children’s Choir have performed for Nelson Mandela and the queen of England. They have sung with Bono, Paul McCartney and Alicia Keys.
Next week, they are coming to Snohomish County.
The choir is part of the Music for Life Institute, an international nonprofit raising money to educate children in Africa and prepare them to be leaders in their home countries.
In its 27-year history, the organization has helped educate thousands of children, said spokesman Greg Mroz, who is based in the charity’s office in Bellingham.
The choir’s mission is to raise awareness of poor and abandoned children in Africa, and to showcase the continent’s rich cultural heritage.
The group performed at six churches in Snohomish County in 2007.
Some choir alumni went on to become doctors, lawyers and engineers, working to improve their countries, Mroz said. Many continue to be involved with the program after they grow up.
All the children currently in the choir, ages 7 to 12, are from Uganda. Touring different countries and understanding other cultures gives children a broader perspective and teaches valuable life lessons, Mroz said.
The group will go sightseeing and take a trip to the San Juan Islands, where the scenery will be different from anything the children have ever seen.
“Just experiencing something like this can change their world,” Mroz said.
One of the churches hosting the choir this year is Clearview Foursquare. The nonprofit was looking for places to perform in the area and contacted Foursquare. Coincidentally, a group from the church recently returned from a mission to Uganda, said Hannah Van Winkle, facility manager at the church.
“We thought it would be really cool to have them come here,” she said.
The children will spend a couple of days with host families from the congregation. Many families stepped right up to offer the group a place to stay.
“It’s a good cultural experience, and people are excited to see the kids. It’s just a joy,” she said.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com
Choir shows
Clearview Foursquare: 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at 17210 Highway 9, Snohomish. 360-668-6033.
First Presbyterian Church of Snohomish: 9:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at 1306 Lake View Ave., Snohomish. 360-568-6498.
Cascade Community Church: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at 14377 Fryelands Blvd., Monroe. 360-794-4600.
To learn more about the choir, visit africanchildrenschoir.com. See the choir’s complete tour schedule with the online version of this story at www.heraldnet.com.
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