According to
UNICEF, Nigeria leads the world in out-of-school children with 10.5 million youths not able to receive an education. 60 percent of that number are girls, partly due to the tradition of early marriage.
Nigerian choreographer Seyi Oluyole uses the power of dance to encourage kids to attend school, and to strive toward better futures. According to
Reuters, Oluyole started dance charity group Dream Catchers in 2014; it is geared toward disadvantaged youth in Lagos, Nigeria.
Dream Catchers' humble beginnings started in Oluyole's three-bedroom apartment, where she invited children to live with her (with their parents permission). In exchange for regularly attending school during the day, Oluyole rehearsed dance routines with the kids at night. Unfortunately, she began to have financial difficulties to the point where there was no food.
“I used dance to distract them. By the time we did a dance rehearsal, it would be time for dinner,” said Oluyole.
Her work and determination has certainly changed the lives of the children in the group, all of whom said they were overjoyed to be able to attend school.
“Now I can speak good English. I am no more staying at home. I feel very happy,” said 15-year-old Blessing, who had been out of school for three years.
Dream Catchers has definitely grown, and even scooped up celebrity endorsements from the likes of Rihanna and Naomi Campbell. Oluyole's life changed thanks to social media, when both Campbell and Rihanna re-posted one of the group's Instagram posts. The group has since been featured on Diddy's page, and has performed at a concert for Skepta.
“Let’s just say we won’t be worrying about food for a very long time,” Oluyole said of the group's newfound success. She is currently searching for a bigger home so that she can welcome more Dream Catchers into the fold. “All they just know is that there are now days when we will actually eat lunch.”
