Families urged to open their hearts and homes to Project Zulu choir

Media Relations Team, 25 October 2024

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A boy singing and dancing looks at the camera while busking — Project Zulu choir member Siyabonga busking during the 2023 tour

People local to the Bristol area are being asked to volunteer as a host family for next year’s Project Zulu choir tour.

In May, the choir of 20 children aged between 11 and 14-years-old will leave South Africa for the first time to travel to Bristol with their accompanying teachers. Over three weeks, they will tour the South West, showcasing their marvellous traditional Zulu song and dance in concert halls, churches, schools, and busy city centres.

Every penny raised will go back to their township schools to improve educational facilities, including harnessing solar energy and installing learning and technology equipment to develop digital classrooms.

While in the UK, the choir and their teachers live in pairs with local hosts who play a vital part in making the tour a success.

The trip is coordinated by the Project Zulu team at UWE Bristol. Kate Willis, project coordinator, said: “Welcoming the children and teachers into your home is a unique cultural and relational experience which creates memories and connections that can last a lifetime.

“Whether you’re an experienced host or embarking on the adventure for the first time, we’d love to hear from you. Our incredible choir couldn’t tour without your support.”

A life-changing experience

Norman Muton and Bridget Robbins from Yate heard about the Project Zulu choir tour after visiting South Africa on a few occasions. They stepped forward and became a host family in 2018, hosted for the second time in 2023, and plan to volunteer again in 2025.

“We love the country and love the people,” said Bridget. “So when we heard about the choir and the need for host families, it seemed like a really great idea.

“We were a little nervous the first time around, but within a few minutes of the children arriving at our home they were dancing to music, and it was if they’d been here for months.”

“The house was full of laughter and noise,” added Norman. “Wonderful noise – music, dancing, it was just joyful. The children are amazing; they're away from home, they’re communicating in a second language with people they don’t know. Everything is different and yet they just embrace it all. It's an incredible experience.”

A group of people including a young boy on the left smile happily at the camera — (From left to right) Choir member Muhle, Norman, Muhle's mum Lwazilenkosi Philanathi, Bridget, and Muhle's grandma Zanele during a trip to South Africa

And many host families create long-lasting bonds with their guests, as Bridget explains: “We’ve become very fond of the children, so much so that we’ve kept in touch with Asanda and Nkosikhona (2018) and Muhle and Siyabonga (2023). In October last year we visited South Africa again and met up with all of them for a meal. It was wonderful to see them once more and to see how much they’ve grown.”

“It’s such a rewarding thing to do. The time and effort you put in as a host family is well worth the effort,” added Norman.

To learn more about the hosting opportunity which starts on 17 May 2025, please email projectzulu@uwe.ac.uk to receive an information pack. For more information about Project Zulu go to projectzulu.org

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