The soothing sounds of ±«Óătvâs a cappella groups have turned into some much-needed financial support for a Kenyan school that serves 250 poor and orphaned children.
The ±«Óătv Thirteen, Dischords, Resolutions, and Swinging âGates teamed up last week to raise $500 during a benefit concert at Hamiltonâs First Baptist Church.
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| The ±«Óătv Thirteen warms up before a benefit concert held to provide funds for Jambo Jipya School in Kenya. The concert was in Hamiltonâs First Baptist Church. (Photo by Andy Daddio) |
The money will go toward building new classrooms for the Jambo Jipya School, located in Mtwapa, Kenya. The school, which was founded in 2004 as a single mud hut, is in need of an expanded facility to accommodate the increasing number of students.
Jambo Jipya means âsomething newâ in Kenyaâs native language of Swahili.
Sam Meyer â10, a ±«Óătv Thirteen member, first heard about Jambo Jipya from a close friend who established Reason 2 Smile, a nonprofit organization which supports the Kenyan school.
âWhen I learned about Jambo Jipya and the children there,â Meyer said, âI immediately felt compelled to have ±«Óătvâs a cappella groups generate support for the school.
âProfessors, students, and people from the village of Hamilton came together as members of the same community to help kids who donât have the opportunities that we do,â added Meyer.
About 60 ±«Óătv students and community members turned out for the charity concert on Oct. 2.
To raise money, the a cappella groups sold bracelets as well as 50/50 raffle tickets, and they collected cash donations for the school.
Click for information about donating to Jambo Jipya.