To Donate - www.gofundme.com/f/dream-catc...
My name is Seyi Oluyole, I am the founder of Dream Catchers Academy in Lagos, Nigeria. At the Dream Catchers Academy, our theory of change is to transform the lives of less privileged girls who have experienced homelessness, neglect, or economic hardship resulting in lack of educational attainment by giving them a chance through providing a home, quality education, arts education, welfare, arts and life skills.
I started this organization because like the girls I care for I to was a homeless child.
At age 9 I and my parents lost our home. My parents and I slept in car garages, churches, and sometimes we stayed at my mum’s friend's house but after a while, we were sent away. From this experience, I knew I wanted more out of life.
Although we did not have a TV I got my first glimpse of entertainment and movie directing through TVs at small shops. I was fascinated by the acting of Nigerian film actors like Genevieve Nnanji and Omotola Ekeinde. I was also mesmerized by the dancing and acting of Jennifer Lopez. I would often reenact the scenes from the movies that I saw. Dancing and acting quickly became my escape from the realities of homelessness. My mother also caught on to my passion for the arts. In fact, she attempted to enroll me in the only art school in Lagos at the time but we could barely afford transportation to inquire about the school. When we did, I learned that we could not afford the school.
After 5 years of homelessness, my dad finally saved enough money for our family to rent an apartment near a slum. There, I was enrolled in a community school that did not incorporate arts into the curriculum. However, I still had a strong desire to dance so I started teaching other children in the slum choreographed dance steps.
When I was 21, I moved to the United States in hopes of starting a new life, forgetting about my experience with homelessness and living in the slums. I couldn't forget it, I couldn't forget other young girls who were living the experiences of homelessness. I didn't know them, but I dreamt of them often. Within 3 years I returned to Nigeria and began the mission of helping young indigent girls find hope from homelessness and hold on to their dreams of earning an education.
Six years ago, I started Dream Catchers academy with just five girls. For the last two years, Dream Catchers Academy has housed 30 girls. I have cared for the girls with a combination of my salary, earned income from dancing, and sponsorships. One of the first beneficiaries of Dream Catchers Academy was a five-year-old girl whose father passed away. She was homeless and often scavenged and sometimes begged for food. I saw myself in her and later the other girls that joined us.
In 2020, in the heat of the pandemic; we saw an increase in the vulnerability of indigent girls and the associated threat to their education. We set out to build the first free formal and arts education school in Lagos Nigeria. This school will cater to 100 girls who are indigent or orphaned. With your donations - In March 2022, we finished this school building - • First Free Arts Academ...
It is obvious that care does not stop after school, home life is a key factor in the development of children. Many of our girls, at Dream CatchersAcademy, have experienced homelessness and the associated impacts of homelessness including gender-based violence. To keep girls safe and cared for while they access education, we are be building a home in the form of a dormitory for the girls.
To make this home poossible we are asking for your assistance to raise the sum of $250,000. All of the proceeds will be used to build and provide a home and welfare for 100 indigent girls - along with their access to free education. We have already purchased a plot of land in Ikorodu, Lagos - Nigeria (link) and we are asking for donations to start building a home for these young girls.
Our living space will provide a safe and healthy environment e for our girls to grow and flourish. They will follow a curriculum and after-school schedule that will allow them to focus on their goals and education. We currently have 30 students in our program but there are many more girls out there in need of a home, with your donations we will be able to provide a safe living environment for them.