The Watoto Choir is made up of children who have lost both or one parent to the Aids epidemic or war.

Over the next 12 months members of Denbigh Rotary Club hope to raise £16,000 for a home for eight orphaned children in Uganda. In May the choir, which comprises orphans aged eight to 12, toured Britain and performed, among other places, in Llansannan.

The youngsters spent time at Ysgol y Parc in Denbigh, which already had links with the Watoto charity. Some of the adults accompanying the choir met members of the Rotary club.

"The concert was very moving and when they told us the background to the choir, which is made up of children whose parents have died of Aids, it really touched us. It brought a tear to our eye," said Brian Thomas, who takes over in July as chairman of the Rotary club's international committee.

"We made a promise then to build them a bungalow for eight orphans and a house-mother, and we hope that the whole town of Denbigh will become involved."

Incoming branch president Walter Roberts is determined to reach the target during his term of office.

He said: "Through their music the choir share their unique stories and express their new found hope.

"The children's energy and sincerity are inspiring. The choir performs to present Watoto's vision and to give audiences the opportunity to respond to Africa's HIV/Aids and war crisis."

The main fundraising effort is a buy-a-brick campaign, 'Make a difference: buy a brick', in which bricks are being sold for £5 each.

Two Rotarians, John Davies and Steve Whitehead, both local businessmen, have agreed to buy a brick for each new contract they seal over the coming months.

And Guto Davies of printers Gwasg Helygain in Rhyl agreed to donate 2,000 certificates to be presented to everyone who buys a brick.

Another businessman helping out is Shon Powell, a director of storage specialists Lock Stock, who designed the certificates. The firm also created the publicity posters.

"We hope to raise the £16,000 by next May and for the house to be built by the end of June," said Brian, whose wife Carolyn is head of Ysgol y Parc.

In a separate initiative, the Rotarians have already helped the community of Bulaga by paying for water tanks and furniture and books for schools.

Instead of appealing for books in this country, arrangements have been made with publishers Macmillan, who have a base in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, to provide textbooks in Luganda.

Last year Judith Scriven, a teacher at Ysgol y Parc, and her daughter Lizzie visited Bulaga and they will return to Uganda in July, when they will meet officials of the Watoto charity.

While it is hoped that the buy-a-brick scheme will bring in most of the money, arrangements are being made for a carol service at Howell's School.