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Carole Mikita ReportingTen children, orphaned by AIDS, are in Utah performing after yet another hardship has hit their lives. Earlier this year, their orphanage near Durban, South Africa burned. Now they need a new home, as well as help with the disease that killed their parents.
Six girls, four boys, ages eight to 16, their melodies are beautiful and memorable, their lives already tragic, orphaned by AIDS. They travel the United States to raise awareness and to raise money for a new home.
Yilinasi Mqadi, 14-year-old AIDS Orphan: "Not only us who are here but others who are there, and maybe it if gets rebuildt they can accept more children and they'll be less orphans."
But as video from NBC reports there are 12-million children without parents; that number grows daily. Ted Giese sponsors them. His foundation LOVE, HALLIE is named for his 11-year-old daughter, killed in a car accident last year, she was raising money for the orphans.
Ted Geier, LOVE, HALLIE Foundation: "The best way to continue the life she began was to get kids helping kids, which is why we're doing this show today, because that's part of what she talked about, because it's the say that children really can help children."
The South Africans brought their audience to its feet. The students are both impressed and inspired to help.
Whitney Pack, Park City High School Senior: "They're really good singers and doing a really good job of trying to get fundraising up."
Amy Kuster, Park City High School Junior: "It really kind of gave me an insight into what's happening in South Africa, because you always hear about it, but to actually see it and have kids come here and sing about it, it's amazing."
"The Children of Agape" will hold a special benefit performance again tonight at the Eccles Center in Park City at 7:00. The AIDS orphans will donate 10% of their proceeds to children orphaned by Hurricane Katrina.
