Programs that Support Sponsorship

The Matsiko World Orphan Choir is MCI's largest and most well-known program. Matsiko Children International has been bringing the Matsiko World Orphan Choir to tour the US to since 2008. Matsiko World Orphan Choir constantly demonstrates how the children we view as hopeless can become a hope to others if just given a chance. Matsiko World Orphan Choir has been called “our world’s treasure” by Disneyland themselves, and US officials have called the choir the world’s greatest representative for our world’s 600 million orphaned and at-risk children. You may have seen the children performing in many venues big and small throughout the USA. However, you may not realize that Matsiko World Orphan was first formed by MCI as a national choir practicing and performing within the home countries of the children. From these national choirs, members are selected to travel to America and tour as part of the Matsiko World Orphan Choir. The national Matsiko choirs are critical to the encouragement of the orphaned and at-risk children in each country where MCI operates. Instead of feeling isolated, alone, and worthless, these children now identify as part of Matsiko Children International. Children who were once told that being an orphan is a curse and an insult now feel empowered as they are welcomed by their own president, officials, and nation! For the first time, Matsiko Children International has made it possible to have the nations hear the countless voices of its children who were once part of its deafening silence! This happens because Matsiko choirs are so tremendously talented in music, singing, and dancing; plus they possess some of the biggest smiling faces on earth!

Matsiko Children International's Learning Centers provides an opportunity for every child regardless of age to master reading, writing, and arithmetic through basic algebra. This program is available to all children, whether they have a sponsor or not.  For sponsored children, attending the after-school program often enables them to excel in school, and many become top students in their class. For children who do not have sponsors, the after-school program prepares them to attend school whenever the coveted opportunity arises! Teachers at the Learning Centers also help college students with their more advanced subjects.  Top students are invited to teach and tutor alongside certified teachers. This ensures a safe and encouraging environment with trusted people. 

In addition to the Learning Centers and the Matsiko World Orphan Choir, MCI offers other programs to attract children off the streets. The purpose of these programs is to make educational opportunities available and focus on education empowerment at every possible chance. There is a theater program that invites Broadway actors and actresses to direct, encourage and support the children to perform in a real theatre production in their own country. The Broadway Artist Connection pioneered this effort with the children of MCI and Matsiko World Orphan Choir to perform the very first musical theatre performance in Liberia! MCI’s sports program is right now working to sponsor one of the largest national soccer tournaments and leagues within its partnering countries. Serious sports competition is a great attraction for many youth; however, MCI’s sports leagues will revolve around the children who excel in their educational work while enjoying the competition and teamwork of sports.

Through partnerships with local schools and churches, MCI's leadership programs exist to instill the qualities of kindness, responsibility, and consideration for others. In most 3^rd world countries, there is a lack of respect for women and no real value placed on hidden character traits like honesty and integrity. There is no encouragement to become a responsible person, so the understanding that personal accountability is the guide to success is never available. Many children grow up being taught to take what they can get wherever and however they can, without any appreciation for anyone else. MCI’s leadership programs break this mindset and instill a whole new way of life that revolves around respecting others! 

MCI is currently building Learning Centers to provide for many of the overwhelming needs that families have. Among many other things, these centers provide food for children who are hungry, a place of refuge when things are difficult, and support for desperate parents who are struggling and considering selling their children to strangers promising hope. These centers are also staffed with trustworthy counselors and psychologists to provide support in any situation. Above all, these Learning Centers are a place where children can laugh, have fun, and experience (maybe for the first time) the chance to simply be a child and enjoy the moments of childhood. 
 
As you can see, MCI has a variety of programs that exist to empower and free our world’s most neglected children. MCI is always looking for people to join us on this mission! If you want to visit and encourage the children and support any of these programs, you can join MCI on a service trip around the world. Visit our Service Trips page to learn more. If you have questions or ideas about how you can be involved, please send us an email at questions@icnchildren.net.