By participating in WFP's 'Theatre for Development' project, a group of Zambian children saw their dream came true, when they took to the stage with idol, Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi.

Lusaka, 22 December 2003 - It is late on Saturday afternoon and 15-year old Doreen is growing increasingly nervous - and excited.

In a few minutes, she and 14 other children will sing live in front of thousands of people in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

In my music, I am talking about the stigma attached to Aids, letting the audience know this disease is there for real
Zimbabwe's Oliver Mtukudzi

It would be daunting enough if it were merely a school concert. But it's not. It's a massive event, headlined by one of southern Africa's most popular musicians, Zimbabwe's Oliver Mtukudzi.

What's more - Doreen and the rest of her band are far from being professional singers.

Instead, they are a group of former street children on a mission to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS - and at the same time, to try and dispel many of the negative impressions people have of street children.

"When you are living on the street like we used to do, people call you bad names," explains Doreen, who now attends the Flame Community school outside the capital.

"They call you 'ifiko' (dirty) and 'jail boys'. Other Zambians also believe that you are thieves. To perform with 'Tuku' is like a miracle to me, now I can show the people that called me bad names, that I am as good as them."

THEATRE FOR DEVELOPMENT

WFP Zambia part-sponsored the concert and arranged for Doreen and her fellow singers to come and perform.

All 15 performers are from community schools and drop-in centres that receive food aid through an urban assistance programme run by the Agency and its implementing partner, Project Concern International.

This includes a two-week training project, called 'Theatre for Development', which teaches the street kids how to disseminate positive messages about combating HIV/AIDS through drama, song and dance.

PERFECT BACKING

All of which makes the children a perfect backing group for Oliver Mtukudzi. For years, the star has been using his concerts to end stigma and discrimination through the message "my friend with Aids is still my friend."

"In my music, I am talking about the stigma attached to Aids, letting the audience know this disease is there for real. I talk about issues of avoiding contracting it, spreading it and about care of those infected, because you cannot blame anyone for being infected," explained Mtukudzi.

"The audience is here for fun, but through the fun they will definitely get this message - it will definitely go through."

FINE-TUNING

As the Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka fills up with enthusiastic 'Tuku' fans, the children do some last minute fine-tuning of their song and dance routine.

Not only is there an enormous crowd, but Mtukudzi is a very popular artist amongst the street children themselves, who have heard his songs blaring out of radios on numerous occasions.

"Being allowed to do this concert with Oliver is important to us as former street children. I feel happy and confident now," says 14-year old Flexible from the Fountain of Hope drop-in centre in the township of Kanyama.

"We like him because his songs have a message. He teaches people about what is right and wrong and he talks about HIV/AIDS."

Before the children head for the stage, Flexible pauses and says, "When I grow up I want to continue teaching my friends with music and I want to stop people abusing street children. When I grow up I want to become just like Oliver."