A CHOIR from Kenya charmed passers-by in Darlington with singing and dancing to raise money for children’s education in Africa.

Educate the Children is a charity that aims to help children in Africa by building orphanages, schools, and buying education for children living in poverty.

The choir, The Singing Children of Africa, is made up of orphans from Utange, a village in Kenya, who are visiting the UK for the third time on a six-week tour, performing in schools and churches across the country.

Simon Sims, who calls himself “The Music Man”, is the teacher for the choir.

He said: “Utange is a very poor village and there are so many kids that aspire to go to school. We are here to help the children get the opportunity to go to school because in Kenya you’ve got to pay for your education.”

The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-day Saints are hosting the choir as they continue their tour to Newton Aycliffe, Middlesbrough, Billingham, Leeds, and finishing in Scotland.

Mark Stewart, part of the church, said: “We’re here to raise funds and educate the kids. A lot of the children here are orphans so they have no parents, and some of the older kids have been adopted. You can sponsor a child. We all sponsor a child, it’s £11 a month and it pays for the child’s full education.”

Further information on the charity and how to donate can be found at educatethechildren.com