NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The African Children's Choir afforded the chance for James Luzze to find opportunity and a way out of poverty through its international tours and education programs.
"I had a development of the mind in terms of mindset, I learned to dream," he said during a phone interview after arriving in the United States. "And what I saw here, I saw, you know, possibility of a better Uganda because of what I found in this country."
Luzze was a child in his native Uganda when he joined the choir, a Christian-based nonprofit that seeks to improve the lives of impoverished children largely from Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda. Now a chaperone and tour leader, he emphasized the choir's role in providing hope and opportunities for children, as he himself had benefited from it.
He'll be leading the group to First Baptist Church this week for the first stop of the choir's 2024-25 tour. The performance is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church; the group will also be at Northshire Baptist Church in Manchester Center, Vt., at 6 p.m. on Friday.
The children will sing popular children's music, traditional spiritual songs and African cultural pieces. Performances are free and open to the public though attendees are encouraged to arrive early to get a seat. Goodwill donations will be accepted.
The 40-year-old choir is a program of Music for Life, established by Ray Barnett, an Irish-Canadian who had been working in humanitarian causes in western Africa since the 1970s. Barnett, who died earlier this month at age 87, had been inspired by the singing of a young Ugandan boy he'd helped.
The choir raises awareness of the children's needs through its tours and offers the opportunity for the youngsters to see the larger world. It's not just singing — Music for Life operates educational institutions from primary grades through teacher training. It leads sponsorship programs and has provided emergency aid in conflict areas such as Somalia.
Luzze was part of the 16th choir, touring the United States in 1997-98 at the age of 7 after about six months of training.
"We traveled, and we were able to visit two countries that is USA and Canada," he said. "It was quite a wonderful experience, having never traveled before, having never left Uganda. That was the very first time I had boarded a plane, and so the very first time I was visiting the Western world. ... So my eyes were really open to that level of development in the U.S. and Canada, and the different culture that we found out here compared to the one that we had back home in Uganda."
The nearly eight-month trip was eye-opening for the young Luzze — so many different, fascinating foods to try and a "mind-blowing" trip to Disney World.
The choir is a commitment for the youngsters but it's also an opportunity, he said. "You really learn a lot, and that is a lot of exposure that will definitely be something worth remembering for the children as they grow older."
More importantly, it set him on an educational path and he earned a degree in social sciences. Now he's giving back this tour as a volunteer and mentor for the newest choir members.
"The organization in general is an opportunity that everybody out there in Africa may need," he said. "Coming from a poverty-stricken home, I was given hope through the organization, through education and with my degree and calling, I'm able to be a testament to what the organization makes you become at the end of the day."
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North Adams Firefighters Battle Mass Ave Blaze
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters from four communities struggled with water issues as they spent hours trying to douse a blaze in a multi-family structure on Massachusetts Avenue.
All units were called in for the city and Clarksburg, Williamstown and Pownal, Vt., responded with tanker trucks to keep the water flowing.
The building is right across from the intersection with Ashland Avenue and trucks were pulling water from several hydrants on the same line — a line that couldn't keep up with the draws.
Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre said the fire started in the rear of the three- to four-unit structure, on the east end.
"During response we could see the smoke so we made the all-call," he said. "Once on scene, we had smoke coming from this ... righthand apartment ... we tried to make an interior attack but the second floor was too hot and we had to back down."
The 1778-era building has been owned by Richard and Marlene Moon since 1969. Their son, also Richard, lives next door and saw the smoke coming out of the rear.
"My mom was on the porch and I ran over and said, 'We've got to get out of here,'" he said as he watched the building go up in flames.
The McCann School Committee voted to prepare $275,000 for a Massachusetts School Building Authority feasibility study if the school is accepted into repair program.
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The Select Board on Monday voted to suspend police operations in the town of 1,700 at the end of shift on Friday. That's when Police Chief Michael Williams will retire after 40 years on the force, the last 21 as chief. click for more
The children will sing popular children's music, traditional spiritual songs and African cultural pieces. Performances are free and open to the public though attendees are encouraged to arrive early to get a seat. click for more
Superintendent James Brosnan led the School Committee through the new HVAC shop building that the state Department of Education will inspect on Sept. 19. click for more
Supporters and beneficiaries celebrated the 10th anniversary of the organization's work as an economic catalyst for the region at a dinner at Studio 9 at Porches Inn on Thursday.
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