A group of Ugandan children are on the edge of stardom after reaching the finals of the hit UK talent program Britain’s Got Talent, where they wowed the judges and the audience with their amazing dance moves and cheery personality.
They have already made history as the first act to be handed a “golden buzzer” by one of the judges before even finishing their performance. This advanced them to Wednesday’s semi-final, where they received the most public votes, putting them among the ten acts competing in Sunday’s final.
The six children, ages five to thirteen, all came from underprivileged families in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and were taken in and cared for by their guardian-turned-manager Dauda Kavuma.
He told the BBC that he believes their success will inspire other children in similar situations.
“We are overjoyed to be able to continue doing this and to give hope to all the children around the world who are in the ghetto, who are disadvantaged, who are less privileged – that they can make it in life.”
While the Ghetto Kids are gaining a new audience in the UK, they are already a global internet sensation and will perform at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, Priscilla Zawedde, 13, of the group, told the BBC that winning the TV show and the £250,000 ($313,000) prize money would mean “a bigger house for everyone.”
30 children currently share a five-bedroom residence in Kampala, where Kavuma looks after them.
He founded the Inspire Ghetto Kids Foundation in 2007 to care for street children in Kampala’s Makindye neighborhood, telling the AFP news agency that having a larger residence would be a “dream” because the youngsters would have more space.
They are currently supported by donations from well-wishers, earnings from social media posts, and fees for live performances.
