Last week, Redmaids’ High was honoured to host The Singing Children of Africa, an inspiring choir from the Jolaurabi School in Kenya, part of the charity Educate the Kids. They’ve visited before, but this second time was just as full of life, laughter and learning. They’re on tour in the UK, sharing their culture, raising awareness, and helping to fund vital education back home.
The children arrived ready to throw themselves into everything. In art, they painted jellyfish with ink, creating vibrant, fluid colours and shapes that delighted both them and their hosts. Drama lessons were full of games — improvisation, movement, group work — building confidence, communication, and laughter. PE was all about sport: the choir members learned netball, joining in with Redmaids’ students, running, passing, getting used to a new team game in a different setting. And in music lessons, they played, sang, shared rhythms — showing the natural musicality that is at the heart of their choir work.
At lunchtime, they visited the Junior School, giving everyone a chance to mix across ages. The energy was incredible — children played together, exchanged stories, sang songs, and made new friends. It’s one of the smaller moments that often sticks the longest in memory.
After their classroom and playground exchanges, the choir gave a mini-concert in the afternoon for the Junior School, performing some of their traditional songs and dances in beautiful traditional outfits. It was clear how much joy they put into sharing their heritage.
The day culminated in a full evening concert in Redland Hall. The Singing Children of Africa filled the hall with vibrant, cultural songs, interweaving contemporary and traditional elements. Their performance wasn’t just musical — it was storytelling, movement, identity, pride. It reminded us that sharing culture is one of the most powerful ways to bring people together.
Founded by Maureen and Ian McIntyre in 1998, Educate the Kids supports the Jolaurabi School, near Mombasa, Kenya — providing education, infrastructure, and opportunities for children in a community where resources are limited.
The Jolaurabi School educates around 700 children per year, with additional support through sponsorship for secondary education, maintaining and improving school buildings, water access, and other essential facilities.
The choir is not just a performance group; it’s a chance for students to grow in confidence, share their culture, and connect with peers in other countries. Many past members have spoken about how these tours have improved their language skills, strengthened self-expression, and enriched their outlook.
We hope our Kenyan guests felt as welcome and uplifted as we were inspired by them. The day was a perfect mix of fun, learning, culture and friendship — one that reminded us how powerful it can be when education goes beyond subjects, and becomes about empathy, arts, and human connection.
To learn more about our wider community and outreach projects (including Educate the Kids), please visit our website. We can’t wait for the next time our paths cross.
Find out more about our community and outreach projects by visiting our website HERE.