Rue Plumet

Joy and I saw the African Children’s Choir here in town last month. The choir was started more than two decades ago by an Irish minister living in Canada who visited Africa to research a book he was writing. While working on his book, he saw the ravages of war in Uganda and was touched by the children living in extreme poverty and hardship. He decided that he wanted to do something to help and started the choir as a way to help children directly and to spread the message of the dire circumstances that many African children face daily. All of the children in the choir come from homes that have lost one or both parents, and many of them were rescued from a homeless existence living on the streets. Each year a new choir of approximately thirty children is created, and after they tour with the choir for a year, the foundation that runs the choir provides them with free housing and education (through college) at one of several centers they have throughout Africa. The intent is that the children will stay in Africa and help lead their generation.

It was a lot of fun to see the boundless energy and talent in the kids. The bulk of the program consisted of song and dance pieces depicting life and tradition in Africa, as well as some of the hardships that the kids have faced. At the end of the concert they did a very energetic gospel-flavored song that was terrific (”Walking in the Light of God”). Watching the concert, it was sobering to think of the many children suffering across the globe, without families, food, or medical care. But at the same time, watching the choir started years ago by one man with a vision to make things better, it was a great reminder that even one person can make a difference.