The Columbia, Maryland City Coordinating Team will be hosting a meeting to discuss preparations for Children of Uganda's upcoming 2014 Tour of Light.

WHEN:       9:30 AM Sunday, June 23rd 2013

WHERE:     Christ Episcopal Church
                  6800 Oakland Mills Road
                  Columbia, MD 21045

Children of Uganda's Executive Director, Pamela Brannon, will be in attendance to share with us all the excitement of the ongoing preparations for the 2014 Tour of Light performances throughout the U.S.  For the first time ever, the tour will be performing for the public in Columbia, MD at the Jim Rouse Theater on January 17th 2014.  The entire community is invited on June 23rd to hear about the tour and all the ways we as a community can encourage and support these marvelous young artists.  Refreshments will be served. 

For more information, please contact:

E-mail: touroflightcolumbia@gmail.com

Phone: 443-718-9680

Website: www.childrenofuganda.org

2014 Tour of Light Training Begins Soon!

Before our children are ready to light stages on the upcoming 2014 Tour of Light in your city, they must undergo extensive music and dance instruction on the ground in Uganda. Training for the tour will reconvene a week from today and will last throughout the student’s 1st term holiday break from April 26th – May 27th, 2013. 

Over the 4 week training period, we will need funds to cover the cost of the rental facility, transport, food and drink, personal requirements, medical care, costumes and the trainer/staff wages for a total of $7,750.

Become a part of our next Tour of Light today!  Make a donation of $25, $50, $100 or more towards this vital training here: http://www.firstgiving.com/COU/children-of-ugandas-tour-of-light-training

We rely on the generosity of people like you to make the Tour of Light possible and in turn to help educate, feed, clothe and support hundreds of orphaned and vulnerable children. Every dollar we save in upfront costs for the tour is a dollar earned for the continued and life-saving care of our kids. Your gift towards this training will have a positive ripple effect on our mission and in the lives of our music and dance troupe children.

Weebale!  (That means "thank you" in Luganda - the most widely spoken native language in Uganda)

Chicago Children's Choir

One girl told me about this performance: "I have never been nervous before a show before, but I was scared about this performance. I heard the choirs singing and I thought oh my God, can WE be that good?"

Yes, it's true: Chicago Children's Choir is unbelievably talented. Several of their small choirs performed to great amazement on our part. However, our kids had nothing to fear - at the end of their segment they received a standing ovation too.

At the end of the performance we sang three songs together in a massive choir. Our children learned the flips and turns of Appalachian vocal styles, and everyone loved this new song.

Congratulations!

All of our dance troupe members have sacrificed a lot of time and energy to make this tour happen, but two in particular have gone above and beyond. Robert (our Artistic Director) and Jane (Lead Performer) both missed their University graduations in order to be with us on the 2012 Tour. Jane's was yesterday, and a couple of people managed to sneak a big surprise party past her watchful eyes. She was totally surprised when they brought out cake, and a cap and gown, and began making speeches in her honor.

All we can say is -- thank you SO much Jane, we are SO proud of you, and congratulations!

Fire Station Free Day

Children of Uganda spent Sunday at Leonia Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. After a great church service we enjoyed lunch with the community, and then two church members took us on a tour of the local fire station! Great fun was had by all...