Dreams in the Making ~ 2014 Tour of Light Training

To everyone who donated on behalf of our last Tour of Light training, here are some thank you messages from our dance troupe boys and girls: 

"I am happy to tell you that everyone is happy and working hard to be on the tour in 2014. I am in high spirits to meet you next year thanks to your support and the care you express to the Tour of Light dance troupe."

~Andrew Ntege

"Thank you for your support, love, kindness and cooperation. You must really love us because if it wasn't for your support, the training could not have gone on...I thank God that there are people who really do think about us."

~Kellen Nassozi 

"The training for the Tour of Light is going on well because I have been supported by you with everything I need to use.  I assure you that I am going to put in more effort because that is what will enable me to come to your country.  May God bless you."

~Julius Kyakuwa

"Thank you for all that you have managed to provide for our training so that we may continue with high spirits.  Our training is good because we feed well and we are also working hard.  I felt so happy hearing that my friends went to USA last year and I wish to be among them in 2014"

~Cate Nantale

Your support of Children of Uganda's 2014 Tour of Light will help make dreams come true for our most talented students in the performing arts. At the same time, Children of Uganda relies on the generosity of people like you to help educate, feed, clothe and protect all of the orphan and vulnerable students in our program - and so, every dollar we save in upfront costs for the tour is also a dollar earned for the continued care of our kids.

Our music and dance troupe has two vital trainings left before the 2014 Tour of Light kicks off in January. Costs increase with each subsequent training session - and yet, we can assure you the investment will pay off. The Tour of Light is our most successful means of raising both awareness and funds to help support our life-saving work on the ground in Uganda. 

Our 2014 Tour of Light music and dance troupe hopefuls will soon be training again during their 2nd school term holiday break starting in August. 

If 125 people read this message and give just $25 each on behalf of our August tour training, then the cost of feeding the entire dance troupe for their 3 week training period would be completely covered. Will you show your Tour of Light pride and support our most talented children with a gift today?

DONATE NOW

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!