A choir of children from Africa has arrived to entertain audiences in the Burnham-On-Sea area while fundraising for vital facilities in their country.
The ‘Singing Children of Africa’ comprise of 23 children aged 8-13, who are performing traditional songs and dance at 13 venues in Burnham, Brean, Berrow and Bridgwater from June 26th until July 14th.
The needy youngsters all come from poor backgrounds in a small village north of Mombassa.
The charity Educate The Kids has organised the visit to various areas of the UK, including Somerset, the third trip here after earlier tours in 2006 and 2008.
Burnham organisers Sue Stevens and Dorothy May, pictured right, are overseeing the visit locally.
Sue told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This will be a great opportunity for the children that will give them the chance to see and do things that they wouldn’t at home. It is so wonderful for them and great for local people and children to meet them.”
Sue has visited the youngsters at their school in Africa several times over the years as part of her dedicated charity work.
“They have so little but will share so much. Hunger is paramount where they live in Kenya and because of the terrorism situation they are more desperate than ever.”
“We aim to go out to see them three times a year, but it’s so difficult with the current terrorism threat. The Foreign Office said no to our request to visit them in April but I did go in January.”
She added: “It’s so wonderful to help them and to see them in the surroundings. I know they are looking forward to visiting us here in the Burnham area and will go home with a new confidence.”
The children will be singing at:
Fri 26th June Beachcomber Brean 8.00pm
Sat 27th June St Johns Church Highbridge 7.00pm
Sun 28th June St Mary’s Church Berrow 10.30am
Thurs 2nd July Farmer’s Tavern Brean 7.30pm
Sat 4th July Sanders Garden World 10.15am & 2.00pm
Sat 4th July St Andrew’s Church Burnham 7.00pm
Sun 5th July Methodist Church Burnham 6.00pm
Mon 6th July St Michaels Church Brent Knoll 7.00pm
Tues 7th July Beachcomber Brean 7.00pm
Fri 10th July RJ’s unity Farm Brean 7.30pm
Sat 11th July Sanders Garden World 10.15am & 2.00pm
Tues 14th July St Mary’s church Bridgwater 7.00pm