The African Children’s Choir is a large choir composed of children ages 7 to 12 from several African nations.[citation needed] Since its inception, the choir has included children from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana.[citation needed] Many of the children have lost one or both parents to AIDS and other poverty-related diseases, and all of them are victims of extreme poverty.[citation needed] The choir is a Christian organization and one of its principles is “instilling Christian principles through teaching and leading by example.” The choir was founded in 1984 by Ray Barnett when he was traveling in war-torn Uganda and gave a small boy a ride from his destroyed home to a safer village.[citation needed] During their journey, the child did what he knew how to do best – he sang.[citation needed] That simple song of dignity and hope became the catalyst for a program that has changed the lives of thousands of children.[citation needed] From there, the African Children’s Choir was born. Rallying support from the west, Barnett conducted the first tour, in 1984.[citation needed] As the organization grew so did the needs of the children.[citation needed] The choir began selecting Kenyan children in 1990.[citation needed] By 2002, the first South African choir toured in North America.[citation needed] Music for Life has now facilitated over forty tours through the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.[citation needed] The choir serves as the main fundraising branch for its parent organization, Music For Life Institute, with proceeds from the choir’s work used to fund Christian education and relief efforts for African children affected by poverty and disease. The choir has released a number of albums and DVDs over the years, and has performed at major events and venues around the world.[citation needed] The choir has appeared at the British House of Commons and the Pentagon, at some of the world’s most prestigious halls, including the Royal Albert Hall, the London Palladium, the International Club of Berlin and the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels, Belgium. They also performed with Christian music legend, Bill Gaither, in his Gaither Homecoming series. The choir has also recorded songs for the soundtracks of major motion pictures including Oprah Winfrey’s Beloved, Hotel Rwanda and Blood Diamond. The African Children’s Choir currently has two choirs on tour in the United Kingdom and Canada.[citation needed] These choirs are composed of children from Uganda. The choir sang during the Canadian Idol season 4 finale. On 25 April 2007, they performed as part of American Idol’s Idol Gives Back, singing “You Raise Me Up” with Josh Groban.[citation needed] They also performed on the finale of American Idol season 6 at the Kodak Theatre on 23 May 2007. The African Children’s choir was featured in broadcasts and podcasts celebrating 2007 World Party Day. In 2007, the choir performed with the band Dispatch for three sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York.[citation needed] The African Children’s Choir toured in Australia at the Queensland Youth Symphony at Queensland Music Festival.1999. The choir appears on Michael W. Smith’s 2008 album A New Hallelujah, which was live recorded during a worship concert in Houston. In 2008, the choir sang for former President George W. Bush and recorded with Michael W. Smith.[citation needed] On 29 September 2009, the choir celebrated their 25th Anniversary at the Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where the choir held their first performance 25 years before.[citation needed] Special guests at the event included Bob Geldof, who used to live in Vancouver, where he used to work for the Georgia Straight, Paul Rodgers and Michael McDonald. Also in 2009, the choir performed for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at Commonwealth Day in London, England.[citation needed] Alicia Keys sang with the choir at Black Ball Gala. The choir sang for US Global Leadership Coalition honoring former First Lady and Senator Hillary Clinton.[citation needed] The choir sang “All You Need is Love” for the Playing for Change Campaign. In 2010, the choir was featured on A Christmas Cornucopia with Annie Lennox. The choir were part of the “Commonwealth Band” who performed with the Military Wives at the Diamond Jubilee Concert in 2012.[citation needed] The choir also performed with two other choirs from the United States and France singing “What a Wonderful World” for the Playing for Change campaign. Other than the touring Choir, which is the primary fundraising and awareness program of the organization, Music for Life operate several programs in Africa:
