Empower Refugee Youth Through Dance

The Jim Bell Center in Nyamirambo, Kigali was bursting with excitement as MindLeaps' students and staff gathered to celebrate the end of the Rwandan school year and the end of 2019. MindLeaps' junior trainers (high school students) along with staff were responsible for the day's successful events.

The main highlight of the day was, of course, dance performances by MindLeaps' students. The six current student groups: J, K, L, M, O, and P spent seven weeks creating, rehearsing, and preparing dances that were performed for MindLeaps' staff, parents, and fellow students. The pieces ranged in style from ballet and contemporary to hip-hop and afrobeat.

Another highlight of the day included a poem written and performed by former MindLeaps students, Ally and Jean de Dieu, entitled "Street Kid Rise Up." The poem, written in mixed language, English - Kinyarwanda, spoke about the ways in which a street kid's life can shift in a positive direction if their "hands are firmly held upward and given opportunity." Ally recently finished Primary School Level 6 and will be starting Secondary School in the new year. Congratulations Ally!

Also at the event, Rwandan staff members Salama Numukobwa (Community Facilitator), Eugene Dushime (International Coordinator), and Roger Ikuzwe (Program Manager) spoke congratulating the students and teachers on a successful year. They acknowledged the amazing effort involved to make the day's programs so successful and encouraged students to continue improving the self-esteem and teamwork skills they have been developing this year. Ikuzwe continued, crediting the 2019 success of MindLeaps Rwanda to the kids', parents', and staff's, "dedication, inspiration, and professionalism in addressing the social challenge of at-risk youth."

Thank you for your generous support of these vulnerable children in 2019. You have given them the chance to develop life skills that can ultimately lead to new opportunities and an improved life.

MindLeaps recently expanded in Rwanda thanks to Kate Spade New York’s on purpose Fund. This allowed the program to launch in Masoro, providing 30 youth an opportunity to participate in the Train The Trainer program. This program prepares the potential trainers to continue building the MindLeaps program and promoting success for the people in Masoro. Out of the 30 participants, 8 new trainers have graduated and have begun teaching the 100 children now involved in MindLeaps Masoro. One trainer leading the program is former MindLeaps student, Fiston.

Back in 2015, when MindLeaps opened its center in Kigali, Rwanda, Fiston was hesitant to dive right in. He had never experienced dance before. He thought it was a waste of time and did not attend class consistently or focus when he did. Eventually after watching other kids find happiness and success in the program, he decided to put his heart into it and obtained school sponsorship. In 2018, after committing to improve his English speaking abilities, his leadership skills in dance classes, creativity in performance, and overall academic performance, Fiston finished high school.

Now, Fiston holds an essential role in Masoro as a MindLeaps trainer. Without dedicated trainers and the generosity of the on purpose Fund, MindLeaps' work would not be possible. We would not be able to impact the lives of so many children, improving their cognitive and social emotional learning skills preparing them to leap ahead in life.

Thank you for your generous support of MindLeaps students like Fiston over the past several years! With your help, our students are starting to graduate from secondary school and are becoming productive members of the workforce.