Ugandan orphans travel on TSS Earnslaw

9 October 2007

A group of orphan children from Uganda experienced the excitement of steam travel for the first time when they cruised on the TSS Earnslaw on Tuesday 9 October.

The 18 children were from the Watoto Children’s Choir in Uganda. Along with 11 adult leaders, the children were travelling around New Zealand raising awareness of the plight of parentless children in Africa – and funds to help assist those children.

All the children in the choir had been orphaned. This is a sad reality in a nation where 2 million children, out of a total population of 25 million, have lost parents through AIDS, civil war, and ethnic conflict.
The Watoto ministry (www.watoto.com) takes orphans off the street and places them into new homes and families. 

Real Journeys provided the choir with a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw to give them an experience they would otherwise probably never have.

TEAR Fund’s Southland/Otago Regional Manager Jane Laurie, who organised the itinerary for the choir during their southern visit, said she was excited that the children had the chance to ride on the TSS Earnslaw. “I know the choir were only too happy to sing a couple of songs on board for the other travellers and staff.”

The choir also gave a free concert in Alexandra on the 10th October.

For more information, contact:

Tracey Maclaren
Real Journeys Queenstown Operations Manager
Tel: 03 409 0592 / 027 221 8196
Email: tmaclaren@realjourneys.co.nz

Jane Laurie
Southland/Otago Regional Manager – TEAR Fund
Tel: 03 235 8492 / 021 265 7856
Email: jane@tearfund.org.nz