There are thousands of kids here in Nigeria that don’t know where their next meal is coming from or where they’ll be sleeping tonight. I should know. I was one of them.
I lived on the streets for four years when I was young. I passed the time and took my mind off my situation by teaching myself to dance. Something wonderful happens when you are dancing—you let yourself go and you become totally free. But there were so many days that were very difficult. I knew at a young age that God had a purpose for my life and I just had to stay strong while His plan for me unfolded.
I survived being homeless, and as a 14-year-old, I felt God was calling me to help those young homeless children make a better future for themselves. I knew what these kids were going through and that’s why I started the Dream Catchers Academy as a teenager. We all need hope. For the past 18 years, Dream Catchers Academy for Girls has used dance, drama and music as a tool to encourage underprivileged or destitute girls to stay in school and pursue their dreams. This is a way for them to build confidence and it’s a way for me to share my Christian faith. This is all free to these girls since they can’t afford to pay for anything. And if they are homeless, they can even come live here and I’ll provide shelter and all the basic necessities of life.
Currently, I have 20 girls in the academy and 8 are living with me. Since 2006, I’ve probably had 50 children live at the Academy. I strongly believe that God’s biggest commandment is for us to show love, and so I try to show love to others in this way. But also to let them know Jesus through me and the way I live.
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