DREAMCATCHERS ACADEMY Help build a tuition free school and performing arts academy for talented underprivileged girls.
The ability to read, write, and analyze; the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality; the qualifications and connections to get your seat at the table - all of that starts with education. - Michelle Obama
Hi there! We all know how important education is, but it’s always nice to hear Michelle :) Let us tell you a bit about our country, ourselves and why we are reaching out.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: What’s going on in the world?
With the current COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important to understand why countries should invest in human capital (HC) and protect hard-won gains from being eroded. The World Bank, many countries, and partners are coming together to try to close the massive HC gap in the world during COVID-19 and afterwards. The HCI provides a new definition of human capital and quantifies the contribution of health and education to the productivity of the next generation of workers. Countries can use it to assess how much income they are foregoing because of HC gaps, and how much faster they can turn these losses into gains if they act now. [https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/human-capital]
This is a map of the Human Capital Project Countries [current as of June 2020] We are from Nigeria. Sadly, Nigeria’s HCI is lower than the average for its region and income group. [https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/human-capital]
In other notes, almost 90% of the world’s schools have shut in efforts to slow the transmission of COVID-19. An estimated 10 million girls in developing countries may never go back to the classroom. The COVID-19 pandemic will disproportionately affect these girls and young women now and for years to come.
As we said, we are from Nigeria. Let us show you our current situation:
NIGERIA | GIRLS EDUCATION | CHILD MARRIAGE
206M
We have a population of 206,158,244 as of July 2020
18.1
is the median age [which is pretty young]
and there are
45M girls under the age of 15
33.1M 19.3M
girls under the age of 10
[https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/nigeria-population/]
girls under the age of 5
NIGERIA | GIRLS EDUCATION | CHILD MARRIAGE Children in Nigeria can expect to complete 8.2 out of the recomended 14 years of pre-primary, primary and secondary school by age 18.
8.2 4.2
We have a general Educational Enrollment of
However,when years of schooling are adjusted for quality of learning, this is only equivalent to 4.2 years: a learning gap of 4 years.
[https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/nigeria-population/] + [https://datos.bancomundial.org/indicador/SE.PRM.ENRR?locations=NG] + [https://datos.bancomundial.org/indicador/SE.PRM.ENRR?locations=NG]
84%
But it goes down for Women to
82%
NIGERIA | GIRLS EDUCATION | CHILD MARRIAGE
3RD Nigeria has the third highest absolute number of child brides in the world (3,538,000).
39% Of girls are married before age 15.
$7.6B Are lost in earnings and productivity every year because of child marriage.
The main drivers of child marriage in Nigeria are the level of education, political and economic ties offered by the parents to enhance political and social alliances, gender norms rooted in the society, violence against girls and poverty. *As of 2017 from [https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/nigeria ] + [https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/nigeria/]
[that’s BILLIONS, just in case]
SO WHAT CAN WE DO? - You ask?
Help us help ;) WE ARE THE DREAMCATCHERS ACADEMY We change the life of despondent/orphaned girls by bringing hope through education and the arts; thereby changing the path of their future and that of the world. Founded by Seyi Oluyole in 2005, she has been advocating for the support of disadvantaged children​and young people through education, welfare, and mentorship.
My name is TTD and I will like to tell you my story. When I was 6 years old, my daddy died and my life became scattered. My mother could not take care of us, we had no food to eat, no clothes to wear, and I could not go to school. My mom took me to live in another town but they treated me like a slave and I used to fall sick with nobody to care for me. Then one day, my mummy told me about this dancing house from Seyi, she took me to this house and it is I where I live now. That’s how I became a member of The Dream Catchers Academy. Before then, I could not read well and I used to be very afraid of people.
Hobby: Writing, playing games and dancing Favorite food: Fried potatoes (Fries) and Egg Favorite color: Purple Dream: become a writer and dancer
Now I am in school. I live in a good house, I wear cloths and have where to sleep. I am now part of the Dream Catchers family. I love to dance and write stories, I love school too and I also want to help other children that are suffering just like Seyi and Dreamcatchers are helping me.
And it get’s better
WE ARE RAISING FUNDS for a new building in Lagos.
This 350 m2 academy will provide the opportunity for 100 girls to learn life skills through dancing, feel empowered in the community, and obtain leadership competence. You can help us make this dream come true!
GROUND FLOOR
Dance Studio - Library - Admin Offices
Library
Changing Rooms
Dance Studio
Kitchen
Admin Offices
GROUND FLOOR Dance Studio
The Dream Catchers’ Pledge I know I can Be what I want to be If I work hard on it I will be where I want to be
GROUND FLOOR Library
I am not a beggar I am a person of dignity I will always be the best version of myself I am not better than anyone Nobody is better than me
Offices
GROUND FLOOR Kitchen
Changing Rooms
I am a Queen/ King And it is my responsibility to treat everyone with respect and kindness I strive to be the best version of myself Nobody owes me anything I owe myself success, love, and kindness
FIRST FLOOR
Classrooms - Offices - Town Hall
Office
Store
Lunch /Study Room
Comp. Room
Classrooms
Town Hall
FIRST FLOOR Classrooms
My job is not to make myself likeable My job is to be my full self A self that is honest and is aware of the equal humanity of others
FIRST FLOOR Offices
So help me God.
Lunch/Study Room
We need
$100K
to complete construction, but we’re not there yet.
PLEASE DONATE WHAT YOU CAN Click here to go directly to our GOFUNDME campaign!
Or reach out directly for special donations: We can receive specialized dancing equipment, construction materials, school supplies, etc! Who doesn’t love unexpected gifts. * LINK just in case the links doesn’t work beacuse.. You know, technology. https://www.gofundme.com/f/dreamcatchers-are-building-a-school
Thank You!
@dreamcatchersda | dreamcatchersdanceacademy@gmail.com | dreamcatchersacademy.org