Songs raise awareness
Talents help recognize the importance of clean water
Walk to the sink, turn on the faucet: water. Walk to the vending machine, insert a dollar: water.
The crystal clear liquid is a commodity that is abundantly available to United States citizens, but so desperately coveted in third world nations.
From the nations — Children of the World travel the United States calling Americans to action. Photo credit: Ruth Bibby
Hundreds of students gathered Thursday evening to laugh and sing along with World Help’s Children of the World (COTW) as they preformed with a purpose to bring awareness to the importance of having clean water.
COTW is comprised of 29 children, most of which are orphans, from Uganda, Nepal and the Philippines.
“Though you may not be able to tell by the smiles on their faces as they perform, these children have all experienced the crushing grip of poverty, but these kids have something most of us don’t have,” COTW’s East Coast team leader, Casey Johnson said. “These kids have hope.”
Liberty University alumni Casey and Carrie Johnson first heard of the World Help mission and the Children of the World while they were students on campus.
“Seeing something like this (COTW) makes me want to do something,” Carrie Johnson said. “It makes me want to be the difference.”
COTW is partnered with Cause Life, an organization that strives to bring life to children and adults alike by bringing water through deep wells to villages that may not otherwise have access to it.
An estimated 2.2 million deaths are caused every year by unsafe drinking water and nearly 90 percent of those deaths are children, according to Cause Life’s website.
“It’s important for people to recognize the need that the (COTW) supports because without first being aware that it exists, change will not happen,” Carrie Johnson said. “The truth is that although the need across the globe is great, people can still make a difference.”
The children travel in the United States for approximately 10 months out of each year performing at different events to raise awareness of their reality.
“These children are not here as tourists, they are here as missionaries,” Casey Johnson said.
The children have dreams of growing up and changing their world, Casey Johnson said.
“What is neat to me is that what happens here in this room tonight can change the world,” Carrie Johnson said.
For $30 a month a person can support a child and help to provide them with the food, education and water that they need, Carrie Johnson said.
“Through Child Sponsorship, the funding of wells, and other programs World Help offers, people can make a direct and literal impact on children across the world,” Carrie Johnson said. “The Children of the World Choir gives a face and a voice to millions of children who can’t speak for themselves.”
To get involved, visit www.WorldHelp.org.