In Uganda, a country of about 33 million people, approximately 2 million children are parentless. But thanks to the Watoto program, some of these children are taken in, cared for, and raised to change the circumstances of their country and world.
Watoto Children’s Choir raises funds to rescue children and nurture them in a Christian environment.
Photo by Brenda Nugteren
Watoto Children’s Choir travels and performs to raise awareness of and funding for the Watoto program. One of their recent stops was Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. There they raised $4,600.
Brenda Nugteren is one of three coordinators who helped bring the children to Pella. “We like not only that they’re training the children in a Christian environment but that they’re training them to be leaders in their own country,” Nugteren said.
Watoto currently houses about 2,500 children and travels with those between the ages of 7 and 12. It has several choirs, many of which travel simultaneously around the world, selling merchandise that covers the cost of travel. In addition to singing six days of the week, the children complete their schoolwork while on the road.
“The kids know that they’re not receiving a handout, but that they’re receiving these gifts so that they might turn around and bless their country,” Nugteren said.