A musician who volunteered in Africa is to host a charity gig.
Sophie Henderson, better known by her stage name Essy Beth, will perform at Rhubarb Bar on Queensgate on July 21 at 7pm to raise money for Ghanaian anti-poverty organisation Ankoma Outreach.
Slaithwaite singer and multi-instrumentalist Sophie, 25, will be joined by young members of Huddersfield’s Reach Performance Arts group, who sung with her on an EP which will be released on the night.
She has become a keen fundraiser for the small charity since she took part last year in a six month volunteer programme in the community of Ankoma village, located in the rural south central district of Kwahu.
There she put on music and singing workshops, as part of an effort to improve the lives of those who face severe poverty.
“Ankoma Outreach reaches out to many children and it seems apt to have local children here helping to support such a wonderful charity”, said Sophie.
“I wanted to give the children from Reach a chance to perform with a live band, to be on a CD and learn about helping others through charity work.
“It is a pleasure to have them singing on my EP and I hope that we have a big audience at the launch so they all feel like superstars and we can raise lots of money for Ankoma.
“Thanks to the help of Steve Longbottom at Vibration Studios in Lockwood for providing recording equipment and rehearsal space to allow us to create the CD.”
The event will also include projections of some interviews that Sophie undertook with people she met in Ankoma and a raffle.
“My time in Ghana was life changing”, said Sophie.
“I would live there now if I could.
“I met the most incredible people.
“Ghanaians have the biggest smiles yet they are surrounded by poverty, famine and death. They are truly remarkable people and I could not praise the Ankoma Outreach Charity ran by Asha Williams and Craig Richardson more.”
The charity has set up several projects, including at the Ankoma Presbeyterian Primary School, the health clinic and throughout the community.
Entry is by donation, with recommended prices being £4 entry for adults and £3 for children.
