Project Slogan

Dance the Message. Shape the Future

Project Duration

Seasonal (3–4 months per season)​

Project Location

Kakuma Refugee Camp & Host Community Areas, Turkana West, Kenya​​

Target Group

• Youth dancers and creative practitioners (ages 15–30), including refugees and host community members, with a focus on vulnerable and unemployed youth.​

Background & Rationale

Young people in Kakuma possess immense creative talent, particularly in dance, yet lack access to platforms, mentorship, industry exposure, and economic opportunities. As a result, talent often remains informal, underutilized, or lost to negative coping mechanisms such as idleness, crime, and substance abuse.

 

Kakuma Dance Battle responds to this gap by positioning dance as both a livelihood pathway and a social advocacy tool. Each season is guided by a specific social theme, such as peace, mental health, gender equity, or social cohesion, encouraging dancers to create choreography that communicates positive social messages while building professional skills.​​

 

Specific Objectives

1. To identify, nurture, and promote young dance talents in Kakuma.

2. To use dance as a creative tool for social behavior change and community dialogue.

3. To equip youth with basic creative industry skills including branding, digital presence, and monetization.

4. To promote collaboration and employment among creatives such as designers, photographers, and makeup artists.

5. To connect local talent with national creative industry networks.

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Key Activities:

• Online audition and video submission process

• Selection of top 20 dance crews per season

• Capacity-building sessions and basic training

• Provision of preparation support (logistics, creatives, and stipends)

• Live dance battles judged by industry professionals

• Awards, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities for winners

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Expected Outcomes

• Increased visibility and confidence among young dancers

• Strengthened creative collaboration within the community

• Improved youth employability and income-generating opportunities

• Positive social messages amplified through creative expression