African orphans who have lost their parents through war and disease are coming to sing in Banstead this month.

The children’s choir from Uganda travels the world raising awareness about the plight of orphans, poverty, HIV/AIDs, war and the child soldier crisis in the north of the country.

The young choir members live in villages run by charity Watoto whose choirs have toured Africa, Europe, America and Asia.

Rev Mandy MacVean, curate at All Saints Church, Banstead, has invited them to perform at St Ann’s Church, Banstead.

Ms MacVean says she saw the choir perform in Guildford and has been sponsoring a girl though Watoto for about 12 years.

She says: "As she has grown old, I have seen photos of her, school reports and letters from her. It’s rather nice to think we have an investment in this child’s future."

Audience members will be able to sign up as sponsors after the performance hosted by a group of five churches called Banstead Five.

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Ms MacVean says: "They are raising the profile of the charity, they are hoping they will get some more sponsors and they may raise a bit of money from the retiring collection."

Choir members present Watoto’s mission through dance and a fusion of contemporary gospel and traditional African rhythm music.

The charity’s choirs have performed at Buckingham Palace and the White House as well as the Scottish, Canadian and Australian parliaments.

Watoto’s website says: "Their audiences have included princes and paupers, warming many hearts wherever they go."

In the early 1980s Canadian parents Gary and Marilyn Skinner started an English-speaking church in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

They later founded Watoto Child Care Ministries in order to help children orphaned or left vulnerable as a result of HIV/AIDS, war and poverty.

Watoto Children’s Choir; St Ann’s Church, Brighton Road, Banstead; Tuesday, April 21; 8pm; free entry; retirement collection in aid of Watoto; visit www.bansteadallsaints.com