By Rebecca Davis | Executive Director
You are receiving this Project Report since you are a current supporter of the MindLeaps GlobalGiving Program: “Leap Ahead: Empowering Street Youth Through Dance.”
We have so many new things to share with you in this field report!
Early Successes in 2017
The MindLeaps Center in Rwanda welcomes the new season with classes in full swing.
In February, we welcomed a new class of girls. This new class will receive our holistic program: dance classes to increase cognitive skills, academic catch up classes, introductory IT and digital literacy lessons, daily meals, and health/sanitation support. All our girls actively participate in our counseling sessions and work closely with our social worker too. The girls will remain at the center for one year.
This new class of girls was welcomed to the MindLeaps Center at the same time that we enrolled 55 students from our 2016 graduating class in training schools and academic programs across the country. We are excited to be serving new children while seeing our graduates become independent.
The Story of Cloudina
Cloudina is one of the new girls enrolled at MindLeaps. Cloudina dropped out of school last year even though she had nearly completed her studies. Her parents could not support her final semester of school fees, and she was forced to drop out.
Cloudina then moved into her grandmother’s house. Her grandmother sometimes finds temporary work washing clothes and can afford to feed Cloudina. Cloudina’s aunt and her niece also live with the grandmother.
In Februrary, Cloudina came to MindLeaps. For the first time since dropping out of school, she sees the possibility of once again having the chance to learn the skills necessary to help her survive in life. If Cloudina succeeds in the program this year, MindLeaps will sponsor her to return to formal education.
New in 2017
A new element in 2017 is the Academic Acceleration program. This program is run by teachers from the White Dove Girls’ School. This is a “catch-up” program to help our students get caught up to the appropriate grade level in every subject area: science, math, social studies, English, and Kinyarwanda.
As always, the MindLeaps Center in Kigali is open to all our students – past and current – providing a safe space where they can spend their free time. Volunteers from the area come by to help the children with small projects, homework, tutoring, and more. Below you can see a photo from this month of several of our students and alumni busy with their homework.
MindLeaps on CNN
A couple of weeks ago, CNN International filmed at our center and interviewed MindLeaps staff and students. A 30-minute documentary about MindLeaps Rwanda aired on “Inside Africa.” In the documentary, you can hear directly from Passy, Joseph, Simon, and Rene, who are just a few of the students that your donations helped to put into school and vocational training: http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2017/03/10/inside-africa-rwanda-child-dancers-a.cnn
Thank you for all that you do. These wonderful kids are leaping into spring because of your support!
Links:
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