Ashburn Teen Records CD to Benefit Ugandan Students

By Charity Corkey (Contact)

Friday, November 28, 2008

When Stone Bridge High School senior Christine Coogle returned to Ashburn in July from a mission trip in Uganda, she did not want the mission to end. Touched by her experiences in the African nation, the award-winning soprano decided to record a Christmas CD to benefit the Ugandan children.

Three months and $3,000 later, Coogle completed the 13-song Christmas album "Make We Merry" with the help of Artist Owned Records in Ashburn, her father's licensing research and her aunt's graphic design skills.

"Make We Merry" features traditional carols such as "Maria Wiegenlied," the "Sussex Carol" and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," and is available online for $12.

Photo Gallery

Teen’s Christmas CD benefits Ugandan Students

Photo: 0/1

« Previous | Next »

Larger Version

Christine shakes hands with one of the nursery class students, Bonita, during her mission trip to Uganda with Crossroads United Methodist Church. (Christine Coogle)

Larger Version

The secondary students, who now attend Namugongo Secondary and Vocational School, are the beneficiaries of the money raised from Christine Coogle's Make We Merry Christmas CD and benefit concert. (Christine Coogle)

Larger Version

Primary students at Humble School wave to the camera. (Christine Coogle)

Larger Version

Christine Coogle, right, met Bayati Mary, head girl of Humble School during her trip to Mukono, Uganda. (Christine Coogle )

Larger Version

From left, Bayati, Erusa, Christine Coogle and Stefie. "I became especially close with these three girls, who were leaders among the students," said Coogle. (Christine Coogle)

View all thumbnails

When Coogle had traveled to Mukono, Uganda, in July with Crossroads United Methodist Church, she spent her first week playing with the students of Humble School, a primary facility founded by the church.

A week into the trip, she visited the teenage graduates of Humble School at their secondary school.

"It was the most shocking thing I experienced there," said Coogle of the secondary school. "The secondary students were in another school not related to Crossroads, and the conditions were horrible."

Living in filthy dorms with little food, many of the students were sick, some with skin infections and others with malaria. After seeing the situation, the Crossroads mission team began looking for another school to transfer the students to. After visiting a handful of places, they found a better fit.

"It was difficult to move them at the time because they were at the end of their second trimester," Coogle said, "but thankfully the school we wanted let them."

The Ugandan secondary students who recently graduated from Humble School will be the recipients of Coogle's fundraising. All of the money from the CDs will go directly to the students, she said.

Coogle's piano teacher, Susan Yantis, who has traveled to Mukono for the past four years, explained that free public education is not available in Uganda.

"Even the schools called free schools, the parents still have to pay fees," Yantis said. "Besides basic tuition, students have to come with everything that you can possibly imagine. Students come with food, things like bags of rice, which are not just for them to eat, but are added to the communal stores."

Christine's father, Lee Coogle, was also heavily involved in the project. He worked with publishers to arrange licensing, coordinated with the CD manufacturer and built a Web site for the CD.

"As parents we had two goals when beginning this project: that Christine learn and grow from the experience - that goal has already been exceeded - and that the students Christine met in Uganda benefit from all her hard work. That goal is still in the process of being met."

Coogle is also planning a benefit concert for the secondary students, which will be held at 7 p.m.on Sunday at the Crossroad United Methodist Church. She will perform carols from "Make We Merry," and will be accompanied during different pieces by a piano and a harp. A donation of $5 is requested.

Tagged: 2008 Holiday Season, Ashburn, Crossroads United Methodist, fundraiser, holiday, Stone Bridge High School

Your Thoughts...

Are you happy that the school year is over?