After taking Australia to an impressive second place at Eurovision 2016 and capturing hearts all over the world, Dami Im set to warming children’s hearts and raising awareness about poverty.
In June, the “Sound of Silence” singer turned up the volume on this important issue by traveling to Kampala, Uganda to meet Jovia Namirembe — a child she has sponsored since Christmas.
An ambassador for Compassion Australia, Dami began sponsoring children with the charity when she was a 17-year-old university student — well before her audition on X Factor turned her into a household name.
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Leveraging her success at Eurovision, the Australian star participated in a TV documentary for Channel 7’s Sunday Night about her experience, which aired on Australian television at the end of July.
Her enthusiasm for the project was evident long before the segment aired.
In an early Instagram post from Uganda she wrote: “Just landed on African soil for the first time in my life! Jetlagged and in need of a shower but cannot wait to share some of the experiences I’ll have here with you! @compassionau #uganda”
Among those experiences was performing for 200 children in the Naguru slum where they live — a marked difference from glitz and glamour of performing live for an audience of 200 million people at Eurovision.
“I almost enjoy this more than Eurovision in a way,” she told the Sunday Telegraph. “It’s a different kind of thrill. Maybe some child saw it and went ‘oh I’d love to be a singer’. That would be a great thing.”
Nandera, Jovia’s mother, said that Dami’s visit had an instant impact on her family’s sense of worth.
“For Dami to come here has given us a lot of self-esteem, all around people think Jovia is the child of a president,” she said. “We feel so prominent now, we can walk proudly in the community.”
Dami’s visit isn’t an act of tokenism.
Jovia is her eighth sponsor child, joining her global family which includes kids in Mexico, Burkino Faso and Kenya.
You can watch a live stream video of her concert in Africa below.
Are you touched by Dami’s generosity and kindness? Do you want to sponsor a child through Compassion Australia? Visit their web site to find out how you can get involved.
What a true inspiration Ms. Dami Im is who demonstrates real love and compassion to others. Pure class.
Thank you for this article Antony Roso .
Dami is such a beautiful artist. She is so talented and has won the heart of so many Australians and now even European fans love her. She has put Uganda trip as her priority and wanted to help raising awareness to disadvantage children who live in poverty. She has inspired me and many other people to sponsor these children. I personally met her many times and she is so lovely and humble person. Dami is truly a great role model for many of us to follow. #DamiArmy are so proud of Dami Im.
Thanks for the update Antony and Wiwibloggs.
Dami is a beautiful person inside & out. What an amazing person putting others above her own. Such a selfless being. This is what makes Dami different from other artists. Dami will forever be winner in DamiArmy eyes. Thank u for this article.
Dami Im is the must beautiful talented and inspiring person, she is generous in giving of herself and her talent her love of music shines and when you hear her sing it helps lift you up so proud of her and putting her career on hold to for fill promises already made in her support to the betterment of children living in poverty you know that she is the most genuine and caring person in all she aspires to do we love our Dami 🙂 🙂 ??
I wish she had won!
Dami has the heart and soul of a beautiful angle. Because of her caring and dedication towards impoverished children around the world, her Compassion Australia involvement on this trip alone has made a huge impact on so many lives. Because of this trip, sponsorship flooded in and even crash Compassion Australia computer network due heavy traffic. As for John Christian, don’t be such a dumb ass! Go look for attention somewhere else, idiot not needed. Another fan from Canada.
John Christian: Your village called, I’m not even sure they want their idiot back!
her story has left a thoughtful pause and reevaluation of life even to the prairies of Canada
Besides an amazing singer, Dami is also a great person <3<3<3
Thank you for reassuring me that the world is and can be a better place
Antony thanks for putting together your blog about Dami’s Compassion work. I am so glad Dami made the choice of visiting her sponsor child in Uganda as was planned before she was accepted for Eurovision. This of course meant it was in lieu of taking advantage of her Eurovision success. The decision was something that felt right for her and in doing so her fans supported her as well. Dami is currently touring around Australia wowing her audiences as she goes. This is something she has wanted to do for several years and now it is a dream come true… Read more »
Dami Im is a fine example of someone who is true to herself always. Her choices and the documentary where Dami eloquently addresses her reasons for making them, give great insight into her strength of character and depth. She is truly a beautiful soul with firm Christian beliefs and genuine compassion for children living in poverty. She uses her musical genius to make a huge difference in the World on many levels – all in Jesus name and not for self glory. She has earned increased respect and admiration and still has her International #DAMIARMY looking forward to her taking… Read more »
@John Christian Have you forgotten to take your medicine again?
omg she is soooo beautiful inside and out.
Dami im is the best example of how we should prioritise our lives putting others before her own self is such a Christ like attitude that we all should exemplify. It will definitely cost her fame in Europe now, but a place in the hearts of millions of people and her Sponsor child. And John Christian this comment about Dami im supporting Donald trump is a lie, she has nothing to do with him and this spurious lie will get you know where.
Wow such an amazing story about an artist who certainly has her priorities right, and thanks for publishing it. Dami could have selfishly stayed on in Europe to promote herself after doing so well in the Eurovision contest and coming second, but she honoured her previous commitment to visit a little girl who lives in impoverished circumstances who she sponsors. What a genuinely beautiful and caring person she obviously is! I hope that she finds great success in singing as she is obviously so talented, what a voice!