The Hope for Africa Children's Choir Shares Story about HIV/AIDS

Children of Africa and the HIV/AIDS Crisis

There are 15 million AIDS orphans living around the world, 13 million of whom are in Africa. The Hope for Africa Children's Choir were privileged to represent the children of the world suffering with HIV through song and story on Capitol Hill and around the Washington DC Metro area. They have done an incredible job singing and sharing original poetry and story about the challenges and dreams that they face living with the devastating effects of how HIV has affected their lives, their country and continent. UNAIDS and its partners including Keep a Child Alive, RESULTS, Save theChildren, The General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, Crossroads and UNICEF provided support, coordination and funding the bring the choir to the United States of America this year. The Hope for Africa Children's Choir have been sharing their story with crowd pleasing performances in Washington DC, Virginia, and New York. Of the 33.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS across the world, 22.5 million are in Africa. Some people may not know how big Africa is, but it becomes clear in this map. Learn more shocking facts about HIV/AIDS in Africa here.

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir Performance

The children from Uganda Africa share a story about HIV/AIDS in this performance by The Hope for Africa Children's Choir.

Global Solutions for Global Issues

Crowdsourcing: Where GOOD IDEAS COME FROM

Crowdsourcing is the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals to a group of people or community (crowd) through an open call.

Jeff Howe established that the concept of crowdsourcing depends essentially on the fact that because it is an open call to a group of people, it gathers those who are most fit to perform tasks, solve complex problems and contribute with the most relevant and fresh ideas.

How Crowdsourcing works and where good ideas come from is explained in this video.

Crowdsourcing a Strategy to Combat HIV/AIDS

CrowdOutAIDS is a collaborative online project to develop a new way for UNAIDS to work with young people.

It uses online tools to help young people come together to crowdsource a UNAIDS youth strategy on HIV.

Connect with this effort:
Twitter: @CrowdOutAIDS, #CrowdOutAIDS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CrowdOutAIDS-Africa-English/304773609536112.
Also see, "What Does The UNAIDS Report Mean to Me? @mtvstayingalive"

Great People Leading Change on Twitter

• @CrowdOutAIDS
• @UNAIDS
• @kk
• @disgeneration
• @Imeneba
• @rodmccullom
• @alissasadler
• @hummingbird604
• @great_impact10
• @OloriSupergal

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 each year around the world. It has become one of the most recognised international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir will be performing in Washington DC on World AIDS Day.
Event: World AIDS Day
When: December 1, 2011 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Where: Union Station, East Hall, Washington DC
Speaker: Jeffrey S. Crowley - Director, Office of National AIDS Policy, The White House

Map to Union Station Washington DC


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The Hope for Africa Children's Choir will be returning home soon. They will be giving their full performance show of song and dance before they return to HUMBLE School in Uganda Africa.
Event: Hope for Africa Children's Choir Performance
When: December 2, 2011 - 7:30pm
Where: Crossroads UMC, Ashburn, Virginia
43454 Crossroads Drive Ashburn, VA 20147-7778
(703) 729-5100
Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Hope for Africa Children's Choir

The Hope for Africa Children's Chior

Songs of Hope and Joy

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir from HUMBLE United Methodist School in Uganda Africa has been sharing their message of hope & joy through their spectacular performances.  The Choir has received the honor of being invited by UNAIDS to perform at an event drawing attention to the continuing HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa on Capital Hill on October 26th. They have also been invited to perfrom at a World AIDS Day, an event in Washington DC on December 1st.  They have been performing in the Washington DC Metro area and will be performing two shows at Crossroad United Methodist church in Ashburn, Virginia on Sunday November 6, 2011.  Please plan to attend this free show at:

Crossroads United Methodist Church
43454 Crossroads Drive
Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Phone: (703) 729-5100
Map

Show Times: 9:00am & 11:00am

Children of HUMBLE School on a Mission

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir

HUMBLE School Uganda Africa

The "Hope for Africa Children's Choir" from HUMBLE School in Uganda Africa are on tour in the United States. They are on a mission to help raise awareness to Humble School and the impact of AIDS in Africa. They deliver a message of hope in their high energy performances filled with dance and songs of joy.

Crossroads United Methodist Church in Ashburn, Virginia has the pleasure of hosting the Hope for Africa Children's Choir from HUMBLE School this fall! This year a group of 11 students will perform concerts at several locations in New York, Virginia and in Washington D.C. to bring awareness to HUMBLE School. They have even been invited by UNAIDS to present at an event on Capitol Hill to raise awareness on the continued HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. They will also be performing at a World AIDS Day event on December 1st before they will return home to HUMBLE United Methodist School in Uganda Africa.

There are several events scheduled in multiple areas to help support the children of HUMBLE School. Discover how you can show your support by contacting the friendly people at Crossroads UMC:

Phone: (703) 729-5100
Email: information@ecrossroadsumc.org

HUMBLE School Students at Crossroads UMC

The "Hope for Africa Children's Choir" (children of HUMBLE School) share stories about their journey with families at Crossroads UMC Ashburn, Virginia.

HUMBLE School Mission Trip Overview

Volunteers from the Washington DC area and around the world have joined the Crossroads Uganda Mission team over the years to support the needs of the students, teachers, and staff at HUMBLE School in Uganda Africa. Information about the school and mission trips is available at "About Humble School and it's Students". This year's mission team strengthened relationships and worked with others on a new girl's dormitory. An overview of the mission trip is available in this video.

First Performance of Hope for Africa Children's Choir

The children of HUMBLE School had a few hours to rest after their long flight from Uganda Africa, but jumped right into their mission and gave a heartfelt performance at a local church in Virginia. The compassion and energy of these children can be witnessed in this video.



Find out where you can attend one of their free performances and information about other events supporting these children at Crossroads UMC.

People at Local Airport Defy the Laws of Physics

Relationships Matter

Ordinary People Defy Laws of Physics

Children, Women, and Men seemed to defy the laws of physics during reunions filled with tearful smiles of joy. While waiting at the International Gate at Dulles Airport, I was astonished at how people seemed to defy gravity as they leaped into each others arms. Many magical moments transformed the average person into an athlete with world class gymnastic skills . Everyone witnessed a little girl break free from her mother's grip and fly through the air into her father's arms. Couples reunited in a beautiful silence that the crowd could not miss hearing. The International Gate at the local airport is an amazing place. Anyone feeling cynical about life should spend a few minutes near the international gate of their local airport.

"Relationships Matter" was defined a thousand times in each of these moments.

Relationships are the core value of the Crossroads UMC Mission Team. Establishing relationships with others is the key to helping the team understand what needs done and the collaborative efforts of everyone is what makes real change possible. Purposeful interaction gives people the opportunity to learn about each other and each others' culture. These type of activities provide the building blocks for creating more than dormitories or school rooms.

Thank You
Thank you to all the children, sisters, brothers, moms, dads, friends, communities, and organizations for making these type of mission opportunities possible.

What's Next?
The children of Humble School in Uganda Africa have written a ton of letters and some desire to have pen pals. Contact Dave Norman at Crossroads United Methodist Church, if you are interested in the Pen Pal opportunity. He can be reached at (703) 477-7427 or dnorman@crossroadsnova.org for additional information.

People in Brambleton, Virginia U.S. area have joined others from Ashburn, VA, Loudoun County, Virginia, and the Washington DC area to prepare for the next Humble School Family Day 10k walk/race.

We also have an endless collection of stories, photos, and video to process and share.

Acts of Random Kindness

Good Gifts

How Children Remind Us of Good Things

So today I arrived at Humble School and one of the girls walked up to me to greet me.. and went to shake my hand... which was weird for her.... then i realized she was secretly giving me something. I looked down and it was a necklace with a cross on it. Before i could thank her she was walking away.. turned back and smiled. awesome day.

- Jen Schoenmann

This story has challenged me to perform Acts of Random Kindness every day.

 

Children of Humble School & Volunteers Share Gifts of Connection

Children in Africa Share Gifts with Volunteers from U.S.

Celebrating Presence at Humble School Uganda Africa

The volunteers of the Humble School Mission Team (Crossroads UMC) returned to Humble School to find workers mixing and pouring cement to strengthen the foundation of the dormitory for the girls of Humble School.  The workers and other volunteers were doing such a great job with the cement, the Mission Team was able to spend more time with the children.

Some of the mission team volunteers had the privilege of spending time with students and teachers in the Humble School classrooms. Other volunteers & students spent time learning more about each other between classes.  The volunteers and teachers of the kindergarten class had fun teaching the kids how to sing, "You are my Sunshine".  "It was a true gift to hear these beautiful children sing songs with such angelic voices".

The volunteers and children gathered for a celebration after the school day was over.  The volunteers and teachers handed out scarves that Geraldine's group (back in the States) made for each child here at Humble School.  The kids were very excited to get one of these colorful hand-made scarves. The mission team then gave each child one of the crosses that were hand-made by volunteers in Ashburn, Virginia USA.  The children were so happy to have something that was made just for them.  The children shared a few more stories before we attended fellowship time together.

Students of Humble UM School Uganda Africa

Volunteers Making Gifts for Children at Humble School Africa

The scarves people made for the kids at Humble School are beautiful.  Volunteers all around the Northern Virginia area donate their skills making these scarves every day.  The scarves are also sold in the United States and all the proceeds are donated to Humble School.

Volunteers created the crosses from planks of wood from trees that are native to North America.  I learned new things about myself, my family, and my friends while volunteering with others on creating these crosses for the children in Africa.  Its pretty amazing what can happen when you take a break from the normal routine and share a few simple stories.

 

Contuning Education and Students of Humble School Africa

Education is a Foundation for the Future

Visiting Humble Students at Secondary School

The volunteers of the Crossroads UMC Mission Team return to Humble United Methodist School in Mukono Uganda Africa. The volunteers and students shared a few quick stories and learned a little more about each other. The team got busy moving sand from piles to the sections of the foundation. They worked with others to spread the sand so it filled in around the stones created from the rocks they broke into the foundation the other day.

They rolled out wire mesh to go on top of the sand and rocks, and then secured all the pieces together. All of this has been done in preparation for the cement that should be delivered to the school on Monday.

The team of volunteers finished this work in time to fit in a visit to Mt. St. Henry's Secondary School. The team had a chance to visit with some of the students that graduated from Humble School and now attend St. Henry's. Some of the students that graduate from Humble do not get an opportunity to continue their education, so it was good to see some Humble School Students at Mt. St. Henry's Secondary School.

Education for children in Africa is not a requirement, so many children don't get an opportunity to attend school. Education seems to be considered a luxury in Africa and many families cannot afford to send children to school. Most of the children at Humble School get to have their education because of the generosity of others. This generosity even extends beyond providing a child primary education, because most children then teach others in their family and community the things they learn from school. It is sad to see children with great potential get denied secondary education, especially when there is such a high return on providing education for a single child.

The internet and electrical power are not available all the time, but we will continue to share photos and messages when possible (we take so much for granted at home). We plan to to attend church and do a little sightseeing n Jinja tomorrow.

Volunteers Strengthen Foundations at Humble School Africa

Rock Solid Foundations

New Friendships and Relationships

The volunteers of Crossroads UMC Mission Team woke up to another beautiful day in Mukono Uganda Africa. Some were moving more slowly than others, but luckily someone remembered to bring Starbucks VIA (instant coffee). After much needed coffee and a little breakfast they got on the road to Humble United Methodist School. It was now about 9:00am (around midnight for those living on the East Coast in the United States of America). The team's energy was high and everyone was sharing stories about all the exciting things they have experienced over the last couple days. The majority of the conversation was about new friendships. The team also talked about things they have learned about themselves. We are making many new friends and creating deeper relationships with existing friends during this mission trip. The children at Humble School have also been teaching us a few new things about compassion and faith. We will spend some time with the children before starting our task of adding rocks to the foundation area for the new girls dormitory.

The students went back to class and we started moving rocks, big rocks into the foundation area and into the footings. This is the initial step before adding the layers of cement. There were soooo many rocks!

In the late afternoon, we had a presentation with the kids. We passed out all of the balls and sports equipment people around the United States donated to the children. They had a busy day packed with school work and were very happy to have some new things they can play with together.