Unity of Prescott will host the Matsiko World Orphan Choir for an evening of music to raise awareness for the world’s orphaned and at-risk children.

Doors open for the concert at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 5 in the sanctuary of Unity of Prescott, 145 S. Arizona Ave.

The concert is on a love offering basis, with all proceeds going directly to the choir. The choir will also have handmade creations on sale in the Unity of Prescott lobby. Children in the Matsiko World Orphan Choir come from Liberia, Peru, the Philippines, Nepal, and India. They tour the world as ambassadors for 600 million orphaned and vulnerable children.

Reverend Richard Rogers explained that the goal of the performance is to raise awareness and funding for orphaned children around the world.

“There are many parts of Africa where, you know, starvation and hunger is a regular part of these people’s lives, so they come to this country to raise money to keep their orphanages in Africa functioning,” Rogers said. “Making sure people have a clean, safe place to live, food to eat and education, those are the basics. We get so used to in our country, the basics being taken care of, but in other parts of the world the basics aren’t being taken care of. Just having the basics covered, these kids’ lives are different.”

Matsiko World Orphan Choir performed at Unity of Prescott on their previous U.S. tour and the church wanted to continue its international commitment to helping children.

“We have a high commitment to youth and families,” Rogers said. “Even though these kids are from Africa, we still have a commitment to kids. Our congregation, last time they were here, just loved them. We feed them and they do a concert and it’s just a great experience.”

On their last visit, the audience engaged with the positive energy the children brought.

“They grab you, I mean, these kids are amazing,” Rogers said. “They tour all over the country. They help raise money for the orphanages back in Africa. So the kids that they bring are just these dynamic little beings.”

Audiences can expect a wide range of music from the performance.

“We really have no idea what they’re going to do, but last time it was both traditional African music and U.S. pop music,” Rogers said. “They do a little bit of everything. We’re always surprised by whatever they’re going to do.”

Matsiko means “hope” in Ugandan and in exchange for the hope these children spread with their joyful music, they have an opportunity to receive an education that can transform their lives.

For more information about the performance, call Unity of Prescott, at (928) 445-1850, or email office@unitypresott.org.

For more information about the Matsiko World Orphan Choir, visit matsiko.org.