Sunday, November 27, 2011

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

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.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Ashburn Farm 10k for HUMBLE School in Africa

Thanksgiving Day Ashburn Farm 10k

Supporting the Children at HUMBLE School

Crossroads United Methodist Church and the Ashburn, Virginia community hosted the 18th Annual Ashburn Farm Thanksgiving 10K/5K & 2K Fun Run, Thursday, Nov. 24. This was a record breaking fund-raising event, more than 2,500 people gathered together for some friendly competition and fun that supported a good cause. The Ashburn Farm 10k Committee believes the use of Social Media Networks, Twitter and Facebook contributed to these record breaking numbers and appreciate people sharing this event with friends and family. Runners can see all results from the Ashburn Farm 10k here.

All proceeds from this race support needy and vulnerable children at HUMBLE school and orphanage in Lukojjo Village, Uganda, Africa.

HUMBLE School is a primary school located in Lukojjo Village, Uganda. Operating since 2004, it is now home and school to 266 needy and vulnerable children, many orphaned from war and disease, all victims of poverty. Forty-two children who have graduated from HUMBLE are fully supported by the proceeds of the Ashburn Farm 10K as they continue their education in nearby secondary schools. All proceeds from this race support those children and the children at HUMBLE School. This year’s 10K will featured a special performance by the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir from HUMBLE School. Since arriving in the US in October under the sponsorship of the United Nations AIDS Awareness program, the choir has performed in Washington, D.C. for Congress and World AIDS Day and around Northern Virginia, Richmond, Virginia and New York. The Hope for Africa Children's Choir will also be in concert in Washington DC supporting World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 and at Crossroads UMC on Dec. 2 at 7:30PM. For more information, visit the Crossroads UMC website at http://www.everydaylifewithgod.org.
Thank you to the Ashburn Farm 10k Sponsors, local business owners donating food and prizes, and all compassionate runners for making this a special Thanksgiving day for the children at HUMBLE School.

Thank you to Journalist, Bloggers, and people using Social Media that contributed to the success of the Ashburn Farm 10k!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Hope for Africa Children's Choir in the News

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir Tour USA

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir is a special group of children from HUMBLE School and orphanage in Lukojjo Village, Uganda, Africa. These young ambassadors of hope are currently on tour in the United States of America.  They share their message of hope and joy with their spectacular performances of song and dance.  Their performances have touched the hearts of people in Washington DC, Virginia, New York, and around the world.  Many thanks to the people that have graciously shared their time and homes, providing these children a loving family-friendly experience during their visit.

HUMBLE School is a primary school located in Lukojjo Village, Uganda. Operating since 2004, it is now home and school to 266 needy and vulnerable children, many orphaned from war and disease, all victims of poverty. Forty-two children who have graduated from HUMBLE are fully supported by the proceeds of the Ashburn Farm 10K as they continue their education in nearby secondary schools. All proceeds from this race support those children and the children at HUMBLE School.



The Hope for Africa Children's Choir in the News

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir perform on television during the News Channel 9WSYR program in this video.

 

Thanksgiving Day Ashburn Farm 10k

Join Crossroads United Methodist Church and the Ashburn community for the 18th Annual Ashburn Farm Thanksgiving 10K/5K & 2K Fun Run, Thursday, Nov. 24. In this annual fundraising event, more than 2,000 people are expected to gather for a time of fun, fellowship, and a good cause. All proceeds from this race support needy and vulnerable children at HUMBLE Place, a school and orphanage in Lukojjo Village, Uganda, Africa.

All races will start from Crossroads UMC, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn, VA. The 10K starts at 8:15AM; the 5K starts at 8:25AM, and; the 2K starts at 8:35AM.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 female and male 10K finishers: 1st place, $300; 2nd place, $200; 3rd place, $100. The top 3 5K finishers will receive: 1st place, $150; 2nd place, $100; 3rd place, $50.
Online registration is available at www.active.com. For more information about the race and registration, visit http://www.ashburnfarm10k.com.

HUMBLE School is a primary school located in Lukojjo Village, Uganda. Operating since 2004, it is now home and school to 266 needy and vulnerable children, many orphaned from war and disease, all victims of poverty. Forty-two children who have graduated from HUMBLE are fully supported by the proceeds of the Ashburn Farm 10K as they continue their education in nearby secondary schools. All proceeds from this race support those children and the children at HUMBLE School.

This year’s 10K will feature a special performance by the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir from HUMBLE School. Since arriving in the US in October under the sponsorship of the United Nations AIDS Awareness program, the choir has performed in Washington, D.C. for Congress and World AIDS Day and in the northern Virginia, Richmond and New York areas.

In addition to performing at the 10K on Thanksgiving morning, the choir will also be in concert at Crossroads UMC on Dec. 2 at 7:30PM. For more information, visit the Crossroads UMC website at www.everydaylifewithgod.org.
http://www.everydaylifewithgod.org/events/2011-11-24/ashburn-farm-10k-5k-2k

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Amazon Kindle Books for Children in Africa

Amazon Kindle Books for School Students in Africa

Gift of Reading for Children of HUMBLE School in Uganda

Providing people with resources for learning enables people to improve their lives and the lives of people in their community and the world. Change starts with education and understanding. The Amazon Kindle provides a delivery system of digital ebooks for supporting the education process in areas where printed books are not feasible or available. Using eBooks for education and entertainment also reduces the drain of our planet's natural resources. Learn more about education in Africa and the children of HUMBLE School here, "Education is a Foundation for the Future".
"Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through books."
--Bell Hooks
Pastor and Mission Leader, Dave Norman of Crossroads United Methodist Church in Ashburn, Virginia explains how Kindle ebooks can help the children and staff at HUMBLE School in Mukono Uganda Africa. He also uses SKYPE video conferencing service to connect with others in Spain that explain the Worldreader program. This type of effort requires a collaborative effort. The underling goal of this mission includes establishing real relationships for solving real needs. A young man shares his story about the value of relationships in this video.

Worldreader

Worldreader.org's mission is to make digital books available to all in the developing world, enabling millions of people to improve their lives. They identify schools, train teachers, work with communities, and partner with publishers to bring millions of books to underserved children and families in the developing world.
"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
--Dr. Seuss
Thanks to UMC, USAID, Amazon, and everyone supporting educational programs for children!

Learn more about this Kindle ebook program for children in Africa by contacting Dave Norman: Crossroads United Methodist Church
43454 Crossroads Drive
Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Phone: (703) 729-5100

Saturday, November 5, 2011

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