SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE — A Rwandan Children’s Choir is readying itself for a Rwandan cultural music tour that will take them to the United States of America and Canada mid this year.

The tour is being organised by the Africa Mission Alliance Incorporated (AMA) which partners with the districts of Huye and Kamonyi to support close to 1,000 children and 600 widows.

According to the AMA director John Mulisa, the tour is aimed at developing the music talent among Rwandan children.

"Over the next five months, the 24 selected children will undergo rigorous training to enhance their musical skills. They will stage music shows in venues yet to be confirmed in the USA and Canada. The tour also will help raise funds for Rwandan schools and housing for orphans and widows,” said Mulisa.

Despite the crush music programmeme, pupils will be able to continue their studies based on the Rwandan curriculum with the help of professional teachers.

"We have professional teachers who will continue to teach these children even when they leave the country,” said Mulisa.

The children aged between nine and ten were selected from schools in the Kamonyi and Huye districts where AMA operates. Many of these are orphans or those from poor families.

The tour will not only display the rich Rwandan culture to the world but also market Rwanda as a tourist and investment destination, according to Mulisa.

"We will also promote Rwanda’s export products such as coffee, handicrafts, among others. This will also act as an avenue for reuniting the locals with the Rwandan Diaspora through performances in targeted  cities,” he added.

The Children’s choir is under the expert care of Erica Munyaneza, wife to Amon Munyaneza the founder of AMA.

Erica, from Indiana in the USA has previously trained and directed the African Children’s choir from Kampala Uganda.

The choir performed for several presidents of America and has featured in numerous movies. The same choir was also chosen to perform in front of 30 million viewers of the American Idol, one of America’s most prestigious musical  events.

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