The Watoto Children's Choir is a group of children from Watoto in Uganda, East Africa. Each choir is composed of 12 to 22 children and a group of adult chaperones known as aunties and uncles. The groups tour to raise awareness and support for the work of Watoto in Africa. As they tour, the choirs share a message of God’s unfailing love. It’s what each of the kids on the choir has experienced in their own lives—He places abandoned and forgotten children in families full of love. When people see these children from Uganda, with their hearts healed and their dreams restored, they can’t help but realize that this same God cares for them, too. Their ‘concerts of hope’ are a blend of African rhythms, contemporary gospel music, creative dance and story-telling. They have released several albums including “Mambo Sawa”, “Beautiful Africa” and “Oh,What Love”. Their latest album "We Will Go” features live music played throughout the concerts on most of the tours. Over the past 25 years, Watoto has sent out more than 100 choirs around the world. During that time, the choirs have met Her Majesty the Queen, performed for the President of the United States, visited almost every major parliament in the world and brought joy to tens of thousands of people wherever they go. “Watoto” means "Children" in Swahili. The choir is made up of children who have lost one or both parents, often as a result of AIDS, poverty or extreme vulnerability. They represent thousands of children who were orphaned and abandoned, yet rescued and placed in a family at Watoto - a ministry that brings hope and healing to vulnerable women and children in Uganda and South Sudan. Watoto has three villages that provide homes, families and holistic care to the over 3,000 children. Here they receive food, clothing, medical care, education and most of all the love of a mother. These villages provide a safe place where orphaned and vulnerable children can truly experience the love of a family. Additionally, Watoto comes alongside vulnerable women in their communities as many women in Africa have been marginalized and robbed of all dignity. They’re often uneducated and unemployable, and are left to suffer alone. Watoto is helping to change this by providing adult literacy classes, discipleship, business skills training and job opportunities to help these women earn an income and provide for their families. At the heart of what they do, Watoto rescues and raises children in a loving family and empowers vulnerable women, so together, they can become leaders who impact their communities and rebuild their nation.
