Our Mission
MindLeaps creates educational paths for the most vulnerable children in the world through a creative arts program that is built on data-driven metrics.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
MindLeaps Centers in Rwanda and Guinea provide daily meals to 425 of the world’s most vulnerable children. In Uganda, MindLeaps works with 600 refugee children in the Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. The United Nations’ food program, which provides nutrition for refugees, in mid-April cut its rations by 30% in Uganda, citing budget shortfalls. With mandatory COVID-19 shutdowns for the safety of all, MindLeaps has shifted its operations from social-emotional learning to emergency relief.
In partnership with local governments in Rwanda and Guinea, MindLeaps is distributing emergency food and sanitation packages to the families of the vulnerable children served by our Centers. In Uganda, we are making up for the shortfall in food rations for the children we serve in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. Click here to help us provide meals and sanitation kits to save lives during the COVID-19 crisis.
Who We Are
MindLeaps is a not-for-profit organization staffed by dance instructors, educators, social workers, counselors and administrators, all dedicated to building a bridge to education and positive livelihoods through dance.
What We Do
We engage kids in fun dance classes that are part of a carefully crafted curriculum to develop the key cognitive and social-emotional skills vital to success in school and work.
Why We Do It
We believe that changing mindsets and opening the door to education and employment can change the future for youths who might otherwise be abandoned to hopelessness or radicalization.
How We Know It Works
We monitor and evaluate progress with Tracker, our software program specifically designed to collect data and measure development of critical learning skills.
Misty Copeland and MindLeaps International Artists’ Fund
Last August, ballet superstar Misty Copeland returned to Rwanda to help vulnerable girls and refugee children. She shared her story and continues to provide a voice for these youth through MindLeaps’ International Artists Fund.
“Building Our Bodies & Our Minds” in Mauritania
MindLeaps, in partnership with SOS Pairs Educateurs, enrolls 120 at-risk girls in MindLeaps dance program to improve mental health. They will receive essential meals and be supported to return to school. Thank you to Dining For Women for making this possible.
