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Oregon Coast Aquarium Visited by Children's Choir |
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Covering 180 miles of Oregon coast travel: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats & Florence.
09/24/08
Secrets of the Season |
Oregon Coast Aquarium Visited by Children's Choir
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| The Mwamba Uganda Children’s Choir, a group of 22 young people from Uganda, danced and performed songs in English, Luganda and other African languages at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Photo Credit: Don Wilder, Oregon Coast Aquarium |
(Newport, Oregon) - Visitors and staff at the Oregon Coast Aquarium received a rare treat Tuesday when the Mwamba Uganda Children’s Choir, a group of 22 young people from Uganda, danced and performed songs in English, Luganda and other African languages. The group performed in the lobby as appreciative onlookers enjoyed spiritual songs and dances.
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Kandy Smith, Aquarium Event Manager said the performance was so moving that people watched with tears in their eyes. "I was so moved by these children because I saw their smiling faces, so eager to please and so appreciative of the applause. It's hard to imagine what their life was before these kind people set up this orphanage, and harder still when we heard how many had to be turned away," said Smith.
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| Did the sharks listen in on the show? No one really knows..... |
Tony and Laura Carter of Kalama, Washington have been developing a response to a group of orphans and needy children at the IAM Children’s Family orphanage in Uganda, where some of the children live. Laura Carter first visited the orphanage during a 2003 trip to Uganda. She has since returned many times and has become the U.S. director of administration for the orphanage. She said she fell in love with the children and took on the job – volunteering full time. “We were just there this year. They have our heart and the dedication of our lives toward their futures,” said Carter. Money is raised through donations and sales of the choir’s CD, helping to cover expenses at the orphanage.
One of the primary expenses is medical care. “They don’t go to the doctor until they’re next to their death beds because they can’t afford it,” said Carter. Many children are at the orphanage after losing a parent or parents to AIDS. According to Uganda’s official Web site, about 6 percent of people in the population there have AIDS, and about 880,000 Ugandan children have been orphaned because of AIDS.
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| Freaky sea nettles at Oregon Coast Aquarium |
Carter said their efforts have been making a big difference. “We have seen the fruits of our labor increase every year in these children’s lives. They are happy productive children with a future. Their opportunity and their purpose is to serve the ones who served them for so many years by using their talents to raise money to help care for other orphaned and needy children.” Carter said the money will be used to help buy ten acres on which to expand the work of building homes for children, a secondary school and a place on which to raise food.
During the last five years, the Carters have purchased a house where 33 of the children live. This home also serves as a central place of comfort for other needy children, widows and needy families. The other children live with relatives or guardians. “We have invested tens of thousands of our own personal money and will continue to do so,” said Carter. The Carters are astonished at how much has been accomplished with just a few caring people. “How much more can be done with a few more people sharing this vision?” asked Carter. For information on booking the choir or to make a donation, call Tony or Laura Carter at 360-673-2114.
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