Watoto Choirs Blog

Visit Africa This Year

watotochoirs — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:24:52 +0000

Uganda has recently received major international accolades from National Geographic and Lonely Planet, which named us the world’s best tourism destination in 2012. Visit Watoto, enables you to have both the Watoto and African experience.

It’s a chance to experience first hand the Watoto model – reaching orphaned children and vulnerable women. You will interact with the babies, children and former vulnerable women at Watoto, while enjoying the sights and sounds of Africa through an adventurous safari, bungee jump and local entertainment.

”Visit Watoto hosts close to 3,000 people in a year and about 70 teams are expected to visit this year,” says Brenda Katongole, Visit Watoto Team Leader.

You can visit Watoto either as a team or an individual, taking part in any of the Watoto projects including build teams, medical teams, ministry and other roles specific to your interest and skills.

Opportunities are available through your closest Watoto regional office. Write to us today at visitwatoto@watoto.com for more.

Jan’12 Watoto Children’s Choirs Global Tours

watotochoirs — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:14:56 +0000

On a journey to spread the message of hope and love through Beautiful Africa: A New Generation, three Watoto children’s choirs have started a 6-month tour of Canada, UK and USA.

Choir 54, led by Julius Anuari left Uganda for the USA over the weekend and arrived in Dallas on Saturday. The children, all excited on their first trip outside their home country are geared up for their first live presentations this weekend at Mexia, Lampassas, Lockhart and San Antonio – all in Texas.

Choir 53 led by Sam Kimera also left over the weekend for Canada and is ready for four live performances this weekend at Mission, Delta and New Westminister, BC.

Choir 52, led by Stephen Banyikiza is in its final stages of preparation and leaves for the UK on 22 January. Their first performances will be at South Weald and Dagenham, Essex.

“The presentation is vibrant, colourful and well done. But it’s more than just entertainment. The lives of the children on these choirs have been transformed by the love of Jesus. And this is the story they’ll be sharing with people across the UK, USA and Canada,” says Stephen.

Choir bookings are available for all the choirs in the US, UK, Canada, Asia and Australia. Go to www.watoto.com/choir for more.

Two weeks to go!

choir52 — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:07:52 +0000

We officially started training on the 23rd of August 2011. We have been getting ready for this tour of the United Kingdom ever since and can not wait to be on the road! We leave on the 22nd January.
Our Vision: We are one team United in love, serving one another in humility, compassion and excellence, growing in the likeness of Jesus Christ as we make him known to raise awareness and support for Watoto ChildCare Ministries.

We expect God to bring many souls to his Kingdom as we bring healing to the cities and the nation of the United Kingdom through the new program Beautiful Africa: a new generation.

Choir 50 Christmas…

choir50 — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:13:05 +0000

The festive season has found us in the great state of California and i will run through the events that happened pre and post christmas day! A day that the children and adults will not forget! All of us have been enjoying the christmas break and the rest came in handy, even though its coming to and end, it has all been a blessing 7 days of rest. We arrived at the Tahquitz camp in Idyllwild area carlifornia, situated approx. 5,350 feet above sea level, the camp has amazing scenery with mountains sorrounding it, snow fell and the children were able to feel snow and most of all enjoy a white christmas. The drive to the camp is breath taking and even better when you get to the camp itself. The next day (boxing day), we were invited to attend a christmas party and the Oasis church with Phillip and Holy Wagner, an amazing couple with an amazing team of people who made our christmas a special and memorable one, first taking us to a lunchon and then back to the church for a christmas party where eveyr one got gifts and stockings with lots of candy and treats! As you can tell, the children were blown away and the adults were just teeth up all the time!! Here are some pics:)

A little bit of the Tahquitz Camp

Putting Jackets down and ready for dinner:)

Seriously ready for some serious food:)

Walking through to our luncheon.

Food is great here:)

Pastor Phillip Wagner with some of the children!

The boys had fun for sure!

The girls had fun too!!!

Some Christmas carols:)

Getting on for a fun ride

Time for opening gifts!!

Recording with T-bone feat. Israel Houghton

choir50 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:01:00 +0000

As the Christmas break comes closer for Watoto children’s choir 50, today we got an opportunity to record and spend time with re-known hip hop gospel artist T-Bone and his crew at his studios in California recording a hit song where he is featuring Israel Houghton and the Watoto children’s choir, the song ‘ He’s gat the whole world in His hands’ is expected to be out within the first quarter of next year so all y’all T-bone/Israel Houghton and watoto children’s choir be sure to look out for it and spread the word!! it was such an amazing time full of fun and singing for Jesus! T-Bone is coming with more of his band members to a live concert tomorrow at Helmet Methodist Church in Helmet, California so those of you who can make it make sure you come and don’t miss out!

Watoto with T-bone

the children getting ready to record

T-Bone and his wife

T-Bone's producer, Uncle Scott praying for the recording before it started!

Watoto starting to record! And having fun at it!!

Doing a t.v show with JCTV!

T-Bone saying hi aboard the watoto choir bus!

T-Bone hanging out with some of the Aunties and uncles on watoto choir 50!

T-Bone sending the choir off with God's blessings!

Mall Concert!

choir50 — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:14:20 +0000

Dorris, Priska and Aisha

Greeting the audience

For the first time watoto children’s choir 50 held a concert at one of the amazing Anaheim malls! It was a bright and sunny day and the choir sang a few songs for those going in and out of the mall,people couldn’t fail to stop and see this beautiful choir singing about beautiful Africa!

Enjoy!!

The DrumingNot forgotten!

The focused tech crew!

Paula in Action!

Mike sharing the watoto vision

Watoto Choir Honoured At The Olive Gospel Music Awards

watotochoirs — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:42:13 +0000

Watoto Children’s Choir Honoured at the Olive Gospel Music Award

Watoto Children’s Choir was privileged to be credited as the Best Choir after being nominated in two categories at the first Olive Gospel Music Awards, which took place at the Kampala Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda on 11/11/11.

Since 1994, the Watoto Children’s Choir has travelled the globe as ambassadors for orphans and vulnerable children in Africa. With an energetic fusion of contemporary gospel and traditional African rhythm accompanied by dance and song, the globally acclaimed Watoto Children’s Choir have excelled at representing Uganda on the international scene.

We thank everyone who continues to support us in this worthy cause.

Celebrations

choir50 — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:55:48 +0000

This week has been filled with a few restful days for the team, celebrating Veteran’s Day here in the USA with style! The day holiday meant much to the choir as well as Auntie Mariah’s birthday. She celebrates her birthday with a few other members of the choir including our very own bus driver Uncle John!! See a sneak preview of what happened and hope u can see auntie maria being showered with water:)

Also below are some behind the scenes pics from the precious weeks of the choir in the different places we have been to. Thank you for your prayers and keep doing so!

God bless you all and choir 50 appreciates your support!

The Birthday Babies on the choir 50 this month!Let the party begin!!

Cutting the cake!

Sugar levels are starting to get out of control!! Take the cake away someone! Hahaha!!Trying to meditate on the goodness of the Lord at such a time as this!Will someone, please anyone, get that plate from these guys' hands??? Sugar is bad for children! Seriously!!!!beautiful children representing beautiful Africa

: Meditating on Jesus even in the midst of it all!!; Having a blast!

Someone, please anyone, get the plate away from these guys! Sugar has side effects too!! Hahaha!!

Beautiful AfricaLadies busy selling Watoto merchandise to people from the concert!'Thank you for coming and supporting Watoto'

Ladies are busy after concert of hope!

: Beautiful Africa with Beautiful people!

: ‘Thank you for being a watoto ambassador’

Watoto At The Nowergian Parliament

choir51 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:18:51 +0000

Today was a very good way to end our tour of Norway. We have been here for the last 8weeks and it has been quite a tour in all ways.

The response has been great here in terms of people signing up for sponsorship, giving towards the work of the ministry and the warm welcome received everywhere the choir has gone. More so people have written back to the office appreciating so much of how they have been blessed and very much desire to have the choir back to Norway.

The choir performing

What a way to end, performing for the Nation’s Law making body. It was a great 20minutes concert that left the members of parliament with teary eyes.

later we were treated to a tour of the parliamentary building, met with one of the presidential governors in the parliament, who was a former minster of Health and finally attended an on-going session in the parliament. As a result of this performance the choir has been welcomed again on its next tour of Norway to perform a full concert.

we greatly praise God for the doors he has opened for us while on our tour of Norway. As per the time of writing this blog tomorrow we head to Sweden and Denmark for a week and half tour before we summarize it all in Netherlands.

The Choir waiting to be led to the concert room

Waiting for the parliamentary tour

Trying to Understand the Portrait

prototype of the Parliamentary building

Choir addressed by the former minister for health now presidential governor

Parliamentary session, magnificent room

The children looking on during a parliamentary session

Standing outside the parliamentary buidling

Thank you very much for every person that has given support to the choir while on its tour of Norway. A big thank you to the country Director Harald Hjulstad and his office, to all who have joined the family of sponsors we greatly appreciate and all the the partners of watoto may God richly bless you.

Maureen, Marvin and Sarah smiling away

Thank You Mag Youth For The Gift Of Music

watotochoirs — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:43:06 +0000

On their recent trip to Watoto in Uganda, worship pastors Brad and Rebekah from the US blessed the children at Watoto with two beautiful acoustic guitars. And they are excited to continue the supply.

Thanks to the students at The Source Youth Group, a ministry of Manassas Assembly of God in Northern Virginia USA, two brand new bass guitars are on their way to rock the Watoto children’s villages.

At a recent concert at MAG, Brad and Rebekah shared the experience of their visit to Watoto and the need for musical equipment in the villages.

“That night, we raised enough funds to purchase the guitars, cases, strings and more. Our band had a great time putting these packages together with the help of Gene at a local guitar centre and we look forward to seeing them in Uganda,” says Brad.

From all of us at Watoto, thank you so much Brad & Rebekah and all at MAG. God bless you.

Come to Africa and Visit Watoto today.