Local News

Donations For African Children's Choir After Theft

OAK PARK, Ill. (CBS) ― A children's choir from Africa is singing a much happier tune Monday night. The choir's van was broken into in Chicago Sunday as they prepared for a performance.

CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports a number of valuable items were stolen, but now donations are pouring in to help them.

From the smiles on their faces, it's hard to imagine what the 20 children have been through in their young lives. The kids, who range in age from 7 to 17 years old, are all Ugandan orphans who have lost one or both of their parents to HIV or AIDS.

They have been touring the U.S. as the SIFA African Children's Choir since April to raise money for their orphanage in Uganda.

But Sunday, at a stop in Chicago, the choir's van was broken into and their laptops, video camera and GPS were stolen. It was a heartbreaking blow for the group.

"It was horrible inside because they took our most precious things," said Christine Kisakye of SIFA African Children's Choir.

The children are saddest about the loss of photographs which were stored on the stolen laptops.

"They mean so much to us because some pictures are for our guardians and some of the kids have lost their parents," Kisakye said.

"Now we don't have any pictures and I was in the snow," said Rachel Nakabuye of the choir. "Now how can I explain them there is snow in America?"

Less than a day after the possessions were stolen, donations started coming in. One local businessman even donated $10,000 to the group.

The children say they are touched by the outpouring of support.

"I feel like we are being loved," Kisakye said.

"I feel joy and hoping maybe we are getting better now," Nakabuye said.

The children's choir leaves Chicago Wednesday for Michigan. They say they hope they will be leaving with the photos and other items which were stolen from them. Even if they don't though, they say the thieves didn't steal their memories.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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