By Cassandra Giannone, daCi Australia

In 2017 dance and the Child international and Peace Africa Children's Ensemble had a goal to fund 6 children from Uganda, Kampala to come to Adelaide, South Australia to participate in the 2018 Adelaide international dance conference. In 2018 the goal was achieved, $20,000 was raised, the plane tickets were booked and the children were ready to start their journey.

Unfortunately that very day we received an email that all their visas had been declined and we could not make this dream a reality. The children were so resilient and we were able to include them via video! 2019-2020 a new goal was set! Using the funds to send them to Canada for the next daCi conference in Toronto! 2021 COVID-19 hit and once again this dream could not turn into a reality.

2021-2022 The team came together again to create a new initiative! I am proud to say that all funds have been used to renovate a space fully equipped with the technology they need to interact during the conference and beyond! 5 years later through collaboration, team work and a bucket load of problem solving our little team from different parts of the globe achieved our goal!

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated through the go-fund me page, attending the dinner dance, buying wine from the wine-drive or donating through Kathy Vlassopoulos birthday party!! Your generous contribution back in 2017-2018 made all this happen! Finally a shout out to the dream team! In Uganda: Thank you Ronald, Gerald, Fausta and Mabingo for your continuous support and hard work! It has been a pleasure working with you and I am looking forward to what we can all achieve next!! In Australia: Jeff Meiners, Emma Warmington Nikki Edwards, this would have not been possible if it wasn't for all your efforts. WE DID IT!!! 

Watch a video of the journey here!

 Read the original post on this project below: 

uganda low res

By Cassandra Giannone, daCi, Adelaide Australia

In 2014 I joined dance and the Child international as a Springboard member.The Springboard group was given a task to create Youth Forums which we facilitated at the 2015 Twist and Twin Congress in Copenhagen. After Copenhagen, I became involved in the 2018 Panpapanpalya joint dance congress in Adelaide. Within the organisation of the 2018 congress in consultation with WDA and daCi,the local organising committee agreed an initiative to raise funds to establish a program that would enable young people with access challenges to participate in Panpapanpalya 2018. Therefore it was decided that the 2018 congress budget would include funding to support access.

$10 from each Panpapanpalya registration was allocated to this access budget with additional funds raised through a range of efforts, including generous support from my former co-Springboarders Emma Warmington and Nikki Caputo, as well as daCiAustralia rep Kathy Vlassopoulus, and many local organising committee members.

During planning discussions,a lack of African participation in daCi and WDA events was noted and members identified possible participants. As a result, the Peace Africa Children’s Ensemble was invited to attend the Panpapanpalya Dance Congress and receive support. This project sparked my interest because of my own experience as a Springboard member when my trip was funded to attend the 2015 congress. As an adult I will never forget that experience and it was then I realised that this experience would be life-changing for child or young person. In the 3 years leading up to Panpapanpalya 2018 the fundraising committee hosted a variety of events to raise money and we were able to reach our goal. With collaboration and support from the staff and principal from Thorndon Park Primary School and WDA member Mabingo Alfdaniels, all six students and their teacher were invited to attend the 2018 congress to share their skills and passion for dance. Unfortunately at the eleventh hour the young people were denied visas prohibiting their attendance in Adelaide.

daCi is determined to try again for the next conference in Toronto Canada in July 2021. Watch this space for updates on our progress!