Message From the Patron

Africa has been adversely affected by persistent civil wars, HIV/AIDS, and other natural calamities, most especially drought. Almost all families have been directly affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

Many young children have been left homeless while others have been forced to fend for their siblings in the child headed households. As a result, many children, the majority of them orphans, have not had chance to go to school mainly due to lack of tuition fees and the attendant costs.

It is in this context that my husband (the Bishop), and I, thought of the best way of helping the orphans and other vulnerable children in East Africa, to enable them lead a productive life through the promotion of talents, and raising of funds to enable many more children access basic education.

We have so far been able to establish one ‘orphanage’, Humble School, which caters for 280 orphans and vulnerable children.

The need to provide for the orphans and vulnerable children became a vision, hence the birth of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children ministry, which today is proud of having established the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir.

Through prayer and the search for God’s guidance in the ministry, a music academy was born and christened the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir. All this was undertaken based on faith and trust that the “the Lord would provide for His children”.

Having identified 25 children (aged 5 – 12 years)from different regions of Uganda, the academy was launched in Mukono, Uganda, on October 4, 2007, at a colorful ceremony attended by guests from Kentucky. Unfortunately, 2 of the 25 children tested HIV positive and were consequently relocated from the choir, to Humble United Methodist School, where they are currently accessing elementary school education alongside other needy and vulnerable children.

It is worth noting that 9 of these children were drawn from northern Uganda, mainly from internally displaced peoples’ camps. These children had never known any livelihood other than the camps due to the civil war that has affected the region for over 20 years.

Most of these children had never seen been to school, decent meals, beddings, or adequate shelter. To date the children have ‘a home’, are attending school, have 3 meals a day, and provided with medical care. We remain grateful to God for making it possible for us to contribute to the welfare of these children.

The choir plans to tour various parts of the world to promote ministry through music, sharing stories, promoting awareness about East Africa, and also raise funds for the current, and additional children, enrolled at Humble School, and other church projects in East Africa.

Our vision is big, we want to get more children from all the five countries that make up the East Africa Annual Conference.

I take this opportunity to express our appreciation to Bishop Mike B. Watson of South Georgia Area, and his team for the partnership, and support extended to us, especially in promoting this ministry. All the expenses for air travel/tickets and visa fees for the team been catered for by South Georgia Conference.

May the good Lord reward you abundantly.

Betty Wandabula(Mrs)
Patron
Hope for Africa Children’s Choir