African Children's Choir to visit Greencastle Friday
GREENCASTLE -- Some of the youngest ambassadors of peace and joy will visit Greencastle Friday when the African Children's Choir (ACC) performs a free concert at New Providence Church at 7 p.m.
These are children from the poorest countries of the world whose voices have been heard by world leaders and the top performers the entertainment world and over the past 25 years have raised millions of dollars to educate and rebuild countries devastated by famine, war and AIDS.
Victor Kimera is a former choir member who now serves as a choir chaperon. He said the concert is a great opportunity to learn more about the children of Africa and what they are capable of, even coming from the worst of circumstances.
"It's a group of kids who have lost one or both of their parents and have faced difficult circumstances back home, but have been given a chance to see the world and to spread a message about the African child and the dignity and ability of the African child," Kimera said.
Kimera was one of those children who overcame a rough start to join the choir and eventually get an education because of the choir.
"My mom was working for an orphanage, and that's where I was living with my siblings," Kimera said. "They carried out an audition, and I was chosen to join the choir."
Seeing the world wasn't the only benefit Kimera found as a ACC member.
"It gave me self esteem and self confidence and the ability to mix with people from different walks of life, despite my circumstance and despite the situations I was facing at home," he said. "It just gave me hope, and the organization later paid for my tuition fees all the way through university."
Now out of college, Kimera has chosen to continue his involvement with the organization and give these 7-to-11-year-olds the same opportunity he had.
"I give back time with the organization. I graduated in 2007, and I've been working with the organization since then. It's very rewarding," he said.