Child Protection Kenya Project #53931

Support our Kibera Ballet School.

by PROJECT ELIMU

Project Report | Oct 13, 2026
What Eight Weeks of Dance Make Possible in Kibera

By Nowell Atieno | Project Leader

Dear Supporters,

When schools close for the long holiday, the need to learn, connect, and do meaningful activities doesn't stop. At our Kibera Ballet School, we see this period as an opportunity to keep children engaged through something they love: dance. We are preparing for eight weeks of ballet training and creative development for our 200+ students, starting in November -December towards Christmas.

For many, time away from school means fewer opportunities for structured learning, recreation, and regular engagement with supportive adults. Through regular ballet classes, students at our center have something positive to work towards, whether that means mastering a challenging movement, improving their coordination, learning a new technique, or growing more confident in front of others, and it protects them from poor guidance, negative activities, and unsafe spaces.

Beyond dance, children also benefit from nutritious meals, peer sharing, and mentorship that support their well-being. While dance cannot eliminate every risk children face, consistent participation in a supportive environment strengthens protective relationships, builds confidence, and provides a meaningful alternative to spending long periods without structured activities. We want these eight weeks to be a time when our dancers learn, develop their talents, and discover what they can achieve.

With your support, we can keep creating these safe spaces throughout the holiday period.

Several ways you can be part of this journey:

Donate to keep the program going. Your contribution helps sustain ballet classes, provide essential training resources, and support the daily holiday program.
Share a skill or experience. You do not have to be a ballet dancer to contribute. We welcome opportunities to connect our students with new skills, ideas, and experiences.
Volunteer your time. You could spend time with the children, support an agreed activity, share your experiences, or encourage their interests, in line with our child safeguarding practices.
Help us reach more people. Share our GlobalGiving project with your friends, colleagues, and networks to connect us with others who want to invest in arts education, youth development, and child well-being.

Thank you for being part of the Project Elimu community and for believing in our children's potential.

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Jun 19, 2026
Keeping Kibera Dancing (+ A Special July Update)

By Nowell Otieno | Programs Assistant

To the Community that Holds Up Our Stage,

Growth at our Kibera Ballet School isn't just measured by a higher extension or a cleaner pirouette, it is measured in confidence. Over the last few months, your generosity has given our dancers the rarest of gifts: a space to shed the weight of their circumstances and simply create. With every week that passes, we see less hesitation and more boldness, as our students transform from quiet children into expressive, self-assured young leaders.

We are thrilled to announce that Project Elimu will be participating in GlobalGiving’s exclusive July Bonus Campaign, through our Kibera Ballet School, and as we countdown to July 15th our focus is sharpening on what this moment truly means for our community. We are moving closer to the August school break, and our absolute priority is ensuring that the coming weeks of preparation translate into a secure, protected sanctuary for our dancers when their classrooms close for three weeks.

For 24 hours only, GlobalGiving is setting up a massive pool of proportional matching and incentive funds. When you choose to back our dancers on July 15th, GlobalGiving will match or boost your donation, making your generosity go twice as far.

A Special Note to Our Anonymous Donors: A very large percentage of our GlobalGiving family chooses to give anonymously. While we may not see your names on our dashboard, we see your incredible impact every single day on the dance floor. Whether you sign your name or support us quietly from afar, you are the heartbeat of the Kibera Ballet School. This August program belongs to you, too.

What to Expect Next (And How to Get Involved)

Follow Us on Instagram: Join us on Instagram this month for rehearsal footage, dancer testimonials, and an exclusive look at "A Day at Kibera Ballet School."
Watch Your Inbox: We will send a final, urgent appeal straight to your email right before July 15th with the exact matching times and the direct giving link.
Share the Dance: If you know people who believe in the power of arts education, please pass this message along to them.
Join the Process: Want to do more? If you would love to get directly involved, advocate for our dancers, or partner with us for the August program, please reach out and contact us today.

For now, please mark your calendars and Save the Date for Wednesday, July 15th.

Thank you for believing in the power of arts education and helping children in Kibera continue to dream boldly. Together, we keep Kibera dancing!

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Apr 21, 2026
21 Days to Dance.

By Nowell Otieno | Programs Assistant

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Before we share our progress, we want to say the most important words first: Thank you. By supporting our Kibera Ballet School on GlobalGiving, you’ve become a vital part of our "Project Elimu village", transforming lives through dance. We recently gathered with the parents of our dancers to share our vision and witness the impact of this program together.

It was a powerful reminder that our "village" extends deep into the home. Hearing parents describe the ballet school as a beacon of hope, providing their children with a future built on discipline and grace despite daily hardships, reaffirmed why our dance program matters. Together with these families, we set a goal for this April break: 21 days to simply be a dancer. In Kibera, when the school gates close, the rhythm of survival usually takes over. This April, we changed that rhythm. For three weeks, our ballet program transitioned from an after-school activity into a full-day sanctuary.

Because of you, 231 students in Kibera didn't spend their April break facing the "Rain Tax" or the weight of hunger. Instead, they had 21 Days to Dance. Your generosity provided the floor beneath their feet, the music in the studio, and the meals that fueled their growth. You gave them the chance to stop surviving and start soaring.

To understand the impact of your support, we would like you to meet Alex.

Eleven-year-old Alex is a child defined by his responsibilities. In the Soweto East settlement of Kibera, he is a "silent guardian." While his mother works long hours to make ends meet, Alex is the one who keeps his two younger brothers safe. He is a protector and a caretaker in an environment where the harsh realities of poverty, lack of resources, demand that a child grow up fast. In his everyday life, Alex has to be "hard." He has to be the adult.

When Alex first joined the Kibera Ballet School at Project Elimu last April, he carried that survival instinct into the studio. His shoulders were tight, his movements were guarded, and his focus was often split between the music and the plastic container in his bag, where he would save half of his lunch to bring home to his brothers. For Alex, ballet isn't just a new skill; it is a language of "gentleness" that feels risky in a world that rewards toughness. He is a protector who doesn't know how to let himself be protected, and his body reflects the chronic stress of his daily life.

Over these 21 Days to Dance, we have witnessed a profound transformation. Through the discipline of dance, Alex is learning that strength doesn't always have to be a shield; it can be a source of grace. Ballet has given him a "quiet center." For 2 hours a day, he isn't a guardian or a provider, he is an artist. This shift from "survival mode" to "creative mode" is doing more than teaching him how to dance; it is restoring his childhood and teaching him that he has the agency to express his own emotions.

However, a dancer cannot find their center on an empty stomach. This is where our nutrition program and ballet school become one. Because of your support, Alex no longer has to make the heartbreaking choice to starve himself so his siblings can eat. By providing him with a full meal at the center and the opportunity to bring food back home, we have removed the "hunger anxiety" that used to haunt his practice. With a full belly and a peaceful mind, Alex’s is standing taller, jumping higher, and the "silent guardian" is finally finding his voice through movement. Your support ensures that for Alex, and many other children at our center, dance is not just a hobby, it is the tool they are using to reclaim their life.

While the April holiday program ends, our commitment to these children remains a year-round mission. We will continue to keep the kitchen fires lit and the studio doors open with your support, ensuring that the "soft landing" they found this April becomes a permanent foundation for their future.

Thank you for believing that a child in Kibera deserves more than just survival and for being the "Village" that keeps our dancers dancing.

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