Accra Dances Movement for Climate Change

The Challenge: Water is a Human Right

Across the globe, the climate crisis directly impacts Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Access to Clean Water and Sanitation. We believe that youth are the most powerful agents of change, and when given the right platform, they can translate complex global challenges into compelling calls to action.

The Project: Bridging Continents Through Art

From August 30th to September 14th, the Shared World X-change brought together 16 passionate young creatives (8 from Ghana, 8 from Germany) and 4 facilitators. This intensive, 16-day program, supported by BMZ and Engagement Global, and executed by SCEF and Dancers without Borders, was built on the premise that dance and theatre are universal languages capable of driving social change.

The entire project was focused on creating an urgent and artistic advocacy piece around clean water and sanitation.

Key Implementation Highlights:

• Virtual Kick-off: The teams began their collaboration with a 3-hour virtual meeting before arrival, establishing vital trust and friendship that accelerated their work upon meeting in Accra, Ghana.
• Cultural Immersion: Ghanaian participants led tours of the Korle Gonnor community and shared local cuisine, grounding the German team in the real-world context of water challenges.
• Co-Creation: Participants spent two intensive weeks in rehearsals, turning thematic research on water scarcity, pollution, and climate change into a powerful, 30-minute dance-theatre performance.

The Impact: Performance as Advocacy

The project culminated in two major public performances, turning the young participants into vocal advocates for SDG 6:

1. SCEF@15 Gala Performance: The team delivered a powerful teaser to an audience of over 150 stakeholders, raising awareness among key supporters and partners.
2. Oceanic Resort Main Event: The full 30-minute piece premiered, drawing local creative groups and the Children's Parliament. The performance successfully translated the project's mission into a moving, non-verbal narrative, followed by an audience dialogue to deepen the advocacy impact.

By bringing together Ghanaian and German youth, the Shared World X-change not only created a beautiful piece of art but also forged a new generation of cross-continental advocates equipped with the skills and passion to champion the right to clean water and sanitation in their own communities.

Links:

• Pictures and Videos

Overview

From May to June 2025, the Accra Dances Movement (ADM) took to the streets, beaches, and community spaces of Accra with a mission: to advocate for clean water, plastic pollution awareness, and sustainable sanitation through the power of dance, drama, and youth voice.

With the support of our donors and partners, SCEF activated a dynamic campaign under the Global Water Dances 2025 initiative, reaching hundreds of citizens, engaging street-connected children, and using performance as a tool for social and environmental change.

What We Did 
1. Mother’s Day Clean Water Advocacy – May 9

Held at our SCEF Learning Hub, this special event celebrated mothers while educating families on clean water and home sanitation practices. Children performed short plays and dances themed around hygiene, waste disposal, and respect for water. It set the tone for the campaign ahead.

 2. Beach Clean-Up at Jamestown, Lavenda-Hill – May 31

As part of Global Water Dances 2025, ADM organized a powerful community-led clean-up of the Lavenda-Hill coastline.

• Over 100 volunteers, including children, youth, and local partners participated.

• The event included dance performances, a community dialogue, and a workshop on protecting marine ecosystems.

• Despite limitations (e.g., no amplified sound due to a traditional noise-making ban), the event was a resounding success, merging cultural sensitivity with environmental action.

 3. 16-Day Street Advocacy Campaign

Throughout the first two weeks of June, ADM led a 16-day street engagement initiative across markets, lorry stations, and local schools.

• Children and youth performed flash dances and interactive skits to raise awareness on sanitation and water pollution.

• Petitions were signed, flyers distributed, and community members were invited to join the conversation.

• The campaign helped shift public behavior, especially around plastic waste disposal.

4. Grand Finale: Global Water Dances 2025 @ Accra Arts Centre – June 14

The campaign culminated in a vibrant, youth-led performance at the Centre for National Culture (Accra Arts Centre).

• Accra Dances Movement, Children’s Parliament, and Chale Vibez performed original choreography and spoken word on the theme “Nu Ji Wala – Water Is Life.”

• A panel discussion titled “Beyond Waste: Clean Water, Plastic Pollution & the Future of Ghana” brought together thought leaders and community advocates, including McKingTorch Africa.

• Over 100 attendees, including donors, educators, assembly members, and media representatives, joined in a powerful public call to protect Ghana’s water bodies.

Impact

• Over 50+ street-connected children were directly trained and engaged in dance-led advocacy.

• The campaign reached an estimated 2,000+ people through public performances, clean-ups, and dialogue sessions.

• Children reported increased confidence, understanding of environmental issues, and pride in being youth advocates.

• New collaborations were initiated with local sustainability partners for future advocacy.

Challenges

• Coordinating youth performances around cultural restrictions (e.g., Ga traditional bans on noise) required flexibility and respect.

• Limited funding for logistics, branding materials, and media coverage constrained the scale of outreach.

• Waste disposal post-clean-up required local government support, which arrived late.

What’s Next

• Continue weekly rehearsals and advocacy training with Accra Dances Movement.

• Scale up the Zero Waste Project to additional coastal communities.

• Launch a mini documentary to share the children’s stories and performance highlights.

• Seek funding to expand into schools and create mobile performance hubs for sanitation education.

A Thank You to Our Donors

Your donations help turn vulnerable children into powerful change-makers.
Thanks to you, the rhythm of their feet and the strength of their voices are reshaping how communities see waste, water, and the future of the environment.

Together, we are dancing toward a cleaner, safer, more conscious Accra.
Water is life. Waste is not. And our children are the difference.