SEQUIM — The Matsiko World Orphan Choir will share its inspirational message at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church.
The concert at the church at 925 N. Sequim Ave., is free and all are welcome to attend.
For those interested in supporting the choir, handmade items from the children’s countries will be available for purchase, and a love offering will be taken.
The Matsiko choir is made up of 25 of the world’s poorest orphaned and at-risk children, said Don Windham, International Children’s Network founder. Six members are from Peru, three from India, nine from Liberia and seven from Nepal.
Their ages range from 9-17, and they are sharing a message of hope on their nine-month tour across the United States.
Matsiko is the flagship vehicle of the International Children’s Network. Participants in the choir are auditioned annually and they are selected from a pool of hundreds before leaving their home nations to travel for the first time in their lives, Windham said. These chosen few become part of a one-year U.S. tour.
“They are the greatest ambassadors for our world’s orphaned and vulnerable children,” Windham said. “Before coming to the U.S., some of these children had never experienced electricity or worn shoes.
“But now they sing and dance and share their stories for a very worthy goal: to raise hope, awareness and educational sponsorship for the world’s 600 million orphaned and at-risk children.”
In addition to churches, civic groups, universities, and other public/private schools around the country, the Matisko World Orphan Choir has performed at such places such as Google, Disneyland and Sea World, entertaining crowds of thousands at the Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Cardinals and Rose Bowl games.
The choir has shared their talents via personal presentations with U.S. local and national politicians and graced the platforms of corporations such as Microsoft and Kraft Foods.
For more information about a tax-deductible sponsorship of a child, ICN or Matsiko World Orphan Choir, visit www.matsiko choir.com.
