Schools
Lewis University Hosts Benefit Concert for Uganda
Lewis professor brings South African music to Romeoville.
On Oct. 27, will play host to the non-profit organization Noté Karacel during a musical performance to raise money for the town of Alenga, located in northern Uganda.
Christine Billups, an assistant professor and service learning coordinator at Lewis, has been a part of the Noté Karacel organization since 2007. Billups travelled to Uganda that same year to visit a friend who was working with the town of Alenga.
From there, she and some of the co-founders of the organization worked together to unite people within the project and town.
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The situation and status of this particular town challenged Billups to make a difference in the community and these people’s lives. She quickly became the coordinator of the Noté Karacel Uganda efforts. This month's benefit concert is intended to raise additional funding for the organization.
The main focus for this particular fundraiser is contributing to the well water in Alenga, a small village in Uganda, and sponsoring young girls who live in the town. As a group, Noté Karacel’s mission began as an effort to provide girls with an education.
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The group started with about 13 girls, which has since grown to 22. It costs around $350 per donor to help one of the girls attend the boarding school in Alenga. Billups knows in the current economy, sponsoring a girl that you may never meet may be a difficult task.
“It would be terrific to get one or two sponsors from the evening," she said. We’ve gone to churches before, never to perform, just to communicate our message, and we’re hoping we have more success from this event hosted by Lewis."
The money raised through ticket sales from the Oct. 27 event will help provide clean water, food, education, and medical treatment for everyone living in Alenga. The well water project was one of the first goals focused on by the group. Crosses will also be on sale, with proceeds going to help the Ugandan city.
According to Billups, it costs $10,000 to dig each well. The goal is to eventually have ten different wells for the town. Volunteers just recently were able to dig a third well, but while progress has been made, there is still more work to be done to maintain a clean water supply for Alenga.
The performers taking the stage the night of the benefit will be led by Billups herself. The other three members of the small ensemble are Elliot Wimbush, who will be singing and playing West African djembe drums. Dan Murphy will be on keyboard and vocals, and Judy Schindler, will focus on vocals.
“It was all about timing and who we could drag into the event," Billups said. "It’s always asking a lot of people to perform a concert for free, but they were all willing and excited for the event."
“With this being a non-profit organization and all, you got to do what you got to do to make good happen in the world.”
According to Billups, the concert will feature “inspirational world music.”
“We went with more for a message from this type of music," she explained. "If we are standing up for solidarity of the people we want our messages to include, peace, unity, justice and love."
Along with South African music, classics including “Lean on Me” and “Stand by Me” will be performed. The event will include a special guest performance by Lewis’ own Harmonic Uprising.
Lewis University's Black Student Union on campus has been involved in helping Noté Karacel raise money over the past year. The group raised $300 for the organization last year.
“I’m struck by people’s willingness to stick together with people who don’t have resources like us. I’m just so grateful to be a part of a change like this,” said Billups.
The Noté Karacel Benefit Concert will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 in the Sancta Alberta Chapel at Lewis University. Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for everyone else at the door.
Tickets are being in advance at a discounted rate of $10 per person online at www.notekaracel.org/e_111027.htm. Donations can also be made to Noté Karacel by clicking the link.