MindLeaps

I volunteered to the Mindleaps team since 2020, and my life has incredibly changed. The organization continues to change the lives of children and adults particularly in using dance + academic education to totally enhance the lives of children and at-risk youths living in underserved areas. Thank you Mindleaps for all you do for Africa.

MindLeaps is a nimble founder-led nonprofit that does terrific educational work in certain African countries and other geographies. Their curriculum has proven to have lasting positive impacts on the students that they serve.

MindLeaps is an excellent organization that truly cares about their mission and students. They are passionate and committed to what they do and it shows!

I personally visited the MindLeaps program in operation in Rwanda, and my first-hand experience convinced me of the exceptional work they are doing. The enthusiasm of the children and youth for the program, the dedication of the teachers, and the total commitment of the staff were obvious in every aspect of the program. I saw with my own eyes the results of MindLeaps' carefully structured curriculum and how it takes children from dance to readiness to enter school and pursue their education. MindLeaps wastes no resources and is very transparent about how it works. I have gone on to become a supporter of the education program, sponsoring students to attend school. A truly excellent organization!

My first visit to MindLeaps, Rwanda, was in 2016. Thinking back, I was impressed by the joy of the students, their skills and talents, the effectiveness and efficiency of the staff and volunteers. I am a former high school math teacher and have volunteered at education programs in Cambodia. I have traveled extensively and toured other programs. My respect for Rebecca, Bashir and the entire MindLeaps team is over the top. They always amaze me with the depth and breadth of programs, their dedication. I provide unqualified support for this program and recommend it to others.

MindLeaps is one of the most amazing nonprofit organizations I have ever come across. Their mission, impact and commitment to creating pathways to independence for underserved communities is just beyond exceptional. I am and forever will be an advocate for MindLeaps, it has literally changed my life!

I had a wonderful time interning at MindLeaps this summer! I was introduced to the nonprofit sector field and learned how MindLeaps help create more opportunities for vulnerable children through their creative arts program. Everyone on the team were also really nice and approachable. I learned a lot by working on meaningful projects this summer!

It was so exciting to watch MindLeaps grow in New York City in 2022. I'm continually impressed with its ability to adapt its programs while continuing the core of the dance curriculum to build cognitive and social emotional learning skilss.

I started working for MindLeaps as a volunteer video editor in July 2021 before becoming an International Development Intern in July 2022! MindLeaps is making a difference for children, and communities, by allowing them the opportunities and resources to succeed. Working with MindLeaps has allowed me to do a world of good through their programs and I have loved every second of my time with the organization.

It's been said that “ history starts when you start” for me that was a few months ago when I came across Mindleaps, to rekindle my passion for growth and change..
Love, passion, enthusiasm are only some of the best features that this organization possesses between its people and promotes to the world.
The organization team has many unique ideas to improve the communities and have many projects to work on in the near future.
I have been able to learn so much and enjoy an amazing experience !

Amazing organization, with wonderful people in it!!
I have been involved with MindLeaps for almost 2 years now and it has been one of the best experiences of my life.
The work, and the way they are doing it, is absolutely amazing and inspiring!!
Proud to be part of the family!

I first came across MindLeaps a few months ago on the Internet and was fascinated by their approach of using a data-driven creative arts program to build educational paths for the most vulnerable children in the world. As a dancer myself, I found it amazing how MindLeaps was able to use dance as a tool that could generate imperative change. I believe the work that MindLeaps is doing is truly salient in helping vulnerable children in various communities around the world. As I began my internship with MindLeaps this year, I was also thoroughly amazed by how hardworking and dedicated the entire MindLeaps team is. Everyone at MindLeaps is so passionate about what they do and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering with MindLeaps!

I went to Rwanda on a 3 week Mercer on Mission trip to teach parents of MindLeaps students how to grow their businesses. It was evident that the parents were yearning to provide for their families, and I loved how the organization worked to uplift the whole family. The staff at MindLeaps pours themselves into mentoring children to be all that they are created to be and complete their education. I have started interning with MindLeaps and as a team member, I have been able to see the profound impact they have across the world.

I have been working with MindLeaps since 2016 and have seen firsthand the amazing work they do. The genuine caring and effort they put into the organization is what makes it so successful and efficient. I look forward to continuing to volunteer and witnessing the amazing change they inspire in children and adults around the world!

As a fellow arts-based education practitioner, I had the honor of witnessing the birth of MindLeaps in Rwanda, when Rebecca was teaching intensive ballet warm-ups and modern dance to four young hip-hop dancers living on the streets of Kigali. They created a phenomenal modern dance about reconciliation and some of those youth, who clearly blossomed during the experience, later enrolled in the MindLeaps pilot-program, and then went on to secondary school and even college. Over the years, I made a note to try, whenever possible, to donate small amounts to MindLeaps because I knew that the organization was working tirelessly to perfect a model that was harnessing the power of dance to provide a path for children to access and succeed in education. Arts-based education practitioners know that the arts has a deeper impact than just helping some students become artists or dancers. We know that the arts can transform people, place them on a path towards personal discovery, and fuel their lives with positivity and social-emotional growth. MindLeaps is able to tell us exactly how that is happening with the children in its programs, through a standardized curriculum administered by certified trainers who can enter data on each student into MindLeaps Tracker software, but by no means is the programming staid, wrote, or robotic. Take a look at MindLeaps' videos and you can see how deeply artistic and emotionally engaging the work is in each MindLeaps country. Now, I am privileged to be a Development Advisor for MindLeaps and I can only hope that I will be as successful in this job as MindLeaps has been over the years providing transformative experiences to youth living in some of the most challenging circumstances around the world. Everyday I learn something new about the carefully crafted Dance & Data curriculum, and the accompanying program for older youth, The Virtual Academy, which has blossomed during the pandemic, providing MindLeaps trainers, older students and even community members with a safe space for personal development on-line, using WhatsApp in ingenious ways to run courses, all while MindLeaps provided extra material and nutritional assistance to the children and families in the dance and school sponsorship programs during the lockdowns. It's an honor to be part of such a smart organization that makes the best of any situation, never shying away from a challenge, and always keeping the varied needs of the children at the forefront of every program decision, every data-point entered, every step called on the dance floor.

I have loved working with MindLeaps! It is an organization that makes me excited for the possibilities the world holds. The whole team is all so passionate about the vision for MindLeaps, and they welcome anyone else who is striving to make the world a better place!

I have volunteered for MindLeaps for nearly 7 months and I have had the most wonderful experience doing so. Everyone at MindLeaps is so welcoming and is extremely dedicated to the excellent work that they do. As a volunteer, I have gained so much valuable experience while being able to help work towards such a wonderful cause. I particularly love how resourceful MindLeaps is. Everything at MindLeaps is done for a reason and is executed to its fullest potential. As a lifelong dancer myself, it is so incredible to me how MindLeaps is able to combine so many different areas like the arts, education, and job training to impact the lives of so many children and young adults. Overall, I have been overwhelmingly impressed with the passion and work ethic of people like Rebecca, Eleanor, and LaMar. They have all served as tremendous mentors and role models for me and I look forward to seeing how MindLeaps will continue to grow in the future.

During the summer of 2019, I had the opportunity of attending MindLeaps Train the Trainer 2 week program in New York City, NY. In a few weeks I will be completing the 2nd Tier of this training program in Africa. The level of professionalism displayed during my interactions with staff and supporters of MindLeaps, has been nothing short of excellence. You can tell this organization has a genuine heart and intention for the community it serves. Especially when you meet it’s founder Rebecca Davis. The system that is used, Tracker, is one that is effective for use in all Dance communities to convey areas of growth. The methodology used is spot on and can be utilize with various age groups & capabilities. Seeing this excited me as a 7 year public school Dance Educator with prior studio teaching experience. I am excited about becoming a MindLeaps Trainer in the next coming weeks. Thanks to the vision of MindLeaps, I will be able to use my gift of dance to make a difference in a child’s life in Africa.

MindLeaps works diligently to address the most pressing needs of each of its students. Trainers in each country are experts in their field and are dedicated to building personal relationships with each student as a lasting support network. MindLeaps is an amazing organization consistently proven to show positive results in a fun and effective way.

I stumbled across MindLeaps as I was visiting Kigali on a business trip and I'm so glad I did.

I am familiar with many nonprofits but none of them are unique and astounding as MindLeaps. The work they do abroad is nothing of amazing and to see the transformation amongst the underserved youth was mind blowing. Their staff and volunteers were filled with energy and passion about the communities they serve. Truly one of the best nonprofits in the world

While spending time at the MindLeaps Center in Rwanda, I was so touched by the enthusiasm and welcoming spirit of the children who benefit from the center. It was very difficult to leave; I wish I could have done more to help them. The work of MindLeaps touches so many lives. Keep up the great work.

I am training with MindLeaps as an international teacher, and after spending two weeks with them back in June learning about what they do, I can honestly say they're an incredible organisation. What they do is incredible, and they're making real change in young people's lives. I've learnt so much already, and can't wait to keep learning from these amazing people and see what they do and how MindLeaps will grow in the future!

MindLeaps is a unique and wonderful organization that provides important skills (discipline, creativity, language, memorization, teamwork, self-esteem and grit) to some of the most vulnerable children in the world: refugees and street children in five countries in Africa. MindLeaps uses free dance classes to attract and engage the children, and utilizes proprietary software to carefully monitor their progress. After completing the dance classes, about 3/4 of the children--having gained skills and experienced the pure joy of learning, often for the first time--ask to enroll in school, and MindLeaps helps them to do so. And then 70% of these kids perform in the top 20% of their classes. In this way, MindLeaps changes the lives of 2,000 children each year in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Mauritania and Guinea.

I have volunteered with MindLeaps writing blogs and articles for their Global Giving Reports. I am passionate about their cause, and being able to write these updates gives me insight into the actions they are taking to further the lives of youth around the world!

I had the privilege to visit the MindLeaps center in Rwanda this summer and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. The staff were an amazingly dedicated and caring group of professionals and the children were welcoming and filled with joy. These people are changing lives and paying it forward on a daily basis. It is my pleasure to support this organization.

MindLeaps is an incredible organization doing an outstanding job of helping at-risk youth in Rwanda, Guinea, Uganda, Mauritania, and Kenya to succeed.  Having attended an informational event hosted by MindLeaps, it was wonderful to see the positive impact the MindLeaps team of trainers, teachers, and volunteers consistently provides for the lives, cognitive skills, and future successes of these children. I look forward to seeing MindLeaps continue to grow and build a better future for children in areas of need.

I worked at MindLeaps over the summer as the marketing and development intern. I had an amazing experience; every day was something different and exciting. Rebecca and Eleanor are the most hard working individuals I’ve ever met. Their passion and dedication to better the lives of children in developing countries is inspiring. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to work for such an amazing organization.

MindLeaps has an incredible program that focuses on working closely with their children, provoking solid and long-lasting impact. This positive change is made possible by the uniquely passionate work of people from all layers in there, from the administrators to the dance instructors.

I have been volunteering with MindLeaps for two years, working on projects in Rwanda and Guinea. As a medical student with a background in dance, I am constantly astounded by the impact of MindLeaps work - through the dance curriculum - to promote the development and well-being in children living in extremely challenging circumstances. Most recently, I had the opportunity to help document Success Stories of students whose lives have been transformed through their involvement with MindLeaps. Learning about the future aspirations of these students as both dancers and academic students drove home for me how far into the future MindLeaps' impact will extend for these students and their communities.

Interning at MindLeaps this past summer was such an amazing experience and a great introduction into learning about international development. This experience allowed me to witness the shockingly significant impact small nonprofits can have. I am genuinely impressed at how two amazing individuals here in New York City, Rebecca and Eleanor, can work to change the lives of so many vulnerable children in several countries in Africa. Their dedication towards fulfilling their mission of equipping at-risk youth with the necessary skills to leap forward in life continues to inspire me. I am glad I was able to get involved with MindLeaps and am excited to see what the future holds for the organization as it continues to expand and change the livelihoods of many more children.

I've been working with MindLeaps for the past year to help them develop their health program. I've been so impressed by the passion, perseverance, and compassion of the MindLeaps teachers and the impact they're able to have on vulnerable children's lives. MindLeaps offers a unique model that truly engages with young kids, teaching them invaluable skills and getting them back on a path of success. I feel lucky to have been involved.

MindLeaps has been an important part of my life for about three years. I came across MindLeaps while looking for amazing entrepreneurial women to speak on a panel event I was helping produce at the time. Rebecca (Director) graciously accepted to speak on that panel, and after hearing her speak I felt inspired and compelled to volunteer to contribute to MindLeap's incredible work. Eleanor (Assistant Director) is such a special person because she takes the time to understand what a volunteer's talents are, and place that volunteer with projects that will help them not only positively contribute to MindLeaps, but also grow as an individual in the process. I mentioned to Eleanor that I studied abroad in Guinea and that I loved reading/writing in French, so Eleanor asked me to help translate French articles/blog posts from the Guinea MindLeaps office. I felt so lucky to be given the chance to help as a volunteer with such an important task. I hope one day to travel back to Guinea, this time with MindLeaps as a volunteer. The dedicated, hardworking ethic of the MindLeaps team and their genuine care for their powerful mission are the characteristics that makes MindLeaps one of the best non-profits I have ever had the honor to connect with.

I first came across MindLeaps a little over a year ago, when I saw an internet posting looking for a video volunteer. As I started volunteering more and more of my time, the thing that struck me most (and still does) about MindLeaps is the team's dedication. Between Rebecca, Eleanor, and all volunteers around the world, everybody is trying to enrich the lives of these children through the MindLeaps Program. For my small part, I have enjoyed being part of this winning team, and I look forward to watching MindLeaps continue to prosper in the coming years.

I first came to know about MindLeaps about a year ago. With an amazingly dedicated team, MindLeaps is trying to bring the kids, who deserve a lot but hardly get anything they need, back to school in several countries in Africa. It’s often frustrating to realize how much we have to do with very little that we have to make this world a better place. But we still have hope because there are people like MindLeaps’ who are willing to go beyond their abilities even after knowing all their limitations. Hope they keep bringing more and more smile.

I had heard about MindLeaps and actually went to Rwanda to see their operation for myself. They are doing AMAZING work - you can see the change they are making in the enthusiasm of the kids for their dance program, and for the motivation and support the kids are getting to continue their education. MindLeaps is clearly carrying out its mission in a direct, hands-on way. I saw how MindLeaps is putting its funding directly to work for the kids, and is fulfilling the promises it makes to them.

Volunteering with MindLeaps has been a great experience! I've been able to work with team members on the ground across time zones to create health education materials for MindLeaps program participants. The leaders and staff members are passionate about the mission and vision of the organization and everyone works hard to have them realized.

Over the summer I worked for MindLeaps as a marketing and development intern. I could not have asked for a better experience. Rebecca and Eleanor are two of the most hard working people I have ever met. Their passion and dedication shine through in everything they do. I felt lucky to have a small hand in such a wonderful organization. While I was there, I saw so much growth from within and I can’t wait to see them to continue to progress and make a change in so many young lives.

MindLeaps is such a wonderful organization, and both Rebecca and Eleanor are so passionate in the work they do. During the time I volunteered with them, Rebecca and Eleanor were always smiling at work, and their enthusiasm and kindness is truly reflected and conveyed in the hard work they put into MindLeaps. The change and help they give to the children is so important and powerful. I am so thankful to have volunteered with Rebecca and Eleanor. They, and the work they do, are inspiring.

MindLeaps is an amazing organization that does incredible work.

I'm a software engineer volunteering for MindLeaps since 2015. For a while, I was trying to make my skills useful for something that has a real impact on real people's lives. I definitely found that with MindLeaps.

Right from the start, I was impressed by how MindLeaps understands that technology is important, and tries to leverage it in a smart way to help people, and, at the same time, doesn't fall prey to the tech hype.
Technology is used at MindLeaps to document homeless children's lives, track their success in MindLeaps educational programs, and help make a decision about when is a child ready for formal education. My time couldn't have been spent volunteering for a better organization.

MindLeaps brings hope to children who believed they had no future. The MindLeaps curriculum cultivates children's passion for dance into tangible development in cognitive and social skills, which makes it unique from any other program. It is inspiring to hear the success stories of those who progressed through the program and how their educational and professional goals have evolved due to their growing confidence and skill-set. Ever since hearing about the program from Executive Director Rebecca Davis I was hooked and wanted to learn more and do more to help. I joined the Board of Directors earlier this year and will make my first trip to Rwanda in January.

I interned with Mindleaps in my senior year of college and I helped them create a website where all the information and experiences of their past volunteers could be displayed. I took on this role because I love how the organization is able to change the lives of so many young kids in several parts of the world, especially in Africa. I guess I felt some kind of connection to their vision, being Nigerian myself. It gave me joy to contribute to the goals of Mindleaps and to provide a platform where prospective volunteers can be encouraged to change the lives of others through dance!

I was an intern at MindLeaps this past summer. It was such a great experience and everything I learned is so helpful both for school and life in general. I was also so inspired by the work MindLeaps does and the amount of hope and joy it gives to the students. I left feeling so optimistic about both the work of non-profits and the power of dance. I will treasure those experiences for years to come! It is an organization full of love and change!

I have been to Rwanda several times to visit the MindLeaps Center and to meet the children. I have seen firsthand the remarkable transformation in these vulnerable youth within a period of just a few months. The loving care with which they are greeted and the devoted Rwandan teachers and staff have created a nurturing and safe environment that brings out the best in everyone. All of this and so much more is accomplished through the tireless efforts of MindLeaps' Executive Director Rebecca Davis.

As a ballet dancer, I was particularly drawn to help fundraise for MindLeaps because it uses dance to help underserved children in Guinea, Rwanda and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Most of these kids live on the streets. I am impressed that MindLeaps combines dance classes (which builds confidence while instilling discipline) with educational workshops. The workshops teach computer skills and provide lessons in health and water sanitation. So dance is a vehicle to truly improve these kids’ lives.

Talia K.

I have had the pleasure of volunteering with MindLeaps for the past 3 years. Through its kinesthetic based curriculum, MindLeaps brings joy, education, and life skills to the street children in its programs. It has been so inspiring to see how MindLeaps and the kids in their program have grown over the last few years. MindLeaps truly is helping the kids in their program leap forward in life. I have worked with many different members of MindLeaps's staff; every employee and volunteer is passionate and enthusiastic. I have helped with organizing data, social media outreach, press releases, and promoting MindLeaps's mission. MindLeaps has inspired me to use my love of dance to impact my global community! I look forward to volunteering more!

MindLeaps is a wonderful organization that is run by caring professionals. It is extremely organized and has an effective pedagogy that has truly changed the lives of children in need. Anyone who is interested in making a noticeable change in the lives of children should get involved with MindLeaps!

In the time that I've worked with Rebecca (Director) and Eleanor (Special Programs Manager), I've learned so much about how to run a non-profit and what it truly means to do what you love. Every day was inspiring and different. I've seen first-hand how MindLeaps has impacted the lives of vulnerable children and seen the many children that still need our help. I've connected with some of their volunteers (Julia, Carlos and Chase) during their trips to Rwanda and Guinea and have heard nothing but praise from them. I hope to keep volunteering for MindLeaps and to eventually travel to Rwanda or Guinea as a part of their program.

MindLeaps is a fantastic organization that I can't praise highly enough. I've been volunteering with MindLeaps for the past several weeks, and have been extremely impressed with the important work that MindLeaps is able to accomplish, and with the passion and work ethic of founder Rebecca Davis and Special Programs Manager Eleanor Milburn. Learning about the needs MindLeaps seeks to address and the life-saving work MindLeaps is able to accomplish has been eye-opening. MindLeaps work changes the lives of not only the children they are able to educate and take off the street, but also their family and future generations, as the benefits of attaining education and escaping the poverty cycle reverberate endlessly. MindLeaps is a one-of-a-kind organization that does vital, irreplaceable work.

MindLeaps is a truly remarkable and innovative organization. The MindLeaps' centers located around the world are safe spaces where the kids can be vulnerable, take risks, and feel loved and wanted. Most spectacularly, Rebecca (founder) and the entire staff recognize the potential in every child - and they help them all see extraordinary futures for themselves. Kids who once thought an awesome future was out of reach, now dream of becoming engineers and even doctors. Through a unique dance curriculum enriched by English and IT classes, the kids develop an invaluable skill set learning things like grit and discipline, and teamwork and creativity that allows them to succeed once they are able to return to traditional schooling. And it works. MindLeaps partners with researchers from Carnegie Mellon and Drexel Universities to constantly collect data on the students' progress in the development of both cognitive and non-cognitive skills. The research clearly shows the program's effectiveness. You can see the results of the MindLeaps' programs every single day spent in the field. The impact that this organization has on the lives of so many kids is obvious and extraordinary. I am very proud to be associated with this remarkable non-profit.

This organization is filled with heart, soul and results!! I have taught for MindLeaps for 2 years both nationally and internationally and have witnessed the positive progress of many children. This growth takes place in both short term and long term involvement in the program because it is designed to help children find the tools they need to develop a healthy and confident sense of self. This is all achieved through the beauty, joy and dedication to dance and the cognitive development it encourages. Not only has data research has been done to show the growth of children in these programs, I have witnessed children soar into their futures because of this curriculum. The children are excited to come to class, eager to learn and absorb information. In the Rwanda program, I have seen children open a laptop for the first time and months later they are sending me e-mails in English. The program provides positive role models, support, personalized attention and care to each student. They children begin to see the fruits of their own dedication and perseverance and realize that they have the power to make their lives what they dream them to be. MindLeaps is a strong and extremely organized non-profit that is changing lives daily. I am very honored to be a part of it!

I am in awe of the work that MindLeaps does for populations of street children around the world. I visited the MindLeaps site in Kigali, Rwanda and got to experience first-hand the dance curriculum and witness the positive impact it had on the children. As a dance/movement therapist, I see tremendous potential for this program to promote growth in cognitive and psychosocial development. MindLeaps's founder and executive director, Rebecca Davis, is one of the most generous, compassionate, and tireless workers I have ever had the privilege of meeting.

I have been proudly volunteering with MindLeaps and I can say it's an amazing program run by passionate people. It's rewarding to see children in post conflict countries progressing and preparing a future for themselves with the help of talented dancers and educators.

I learned about the incredible non-profit organization MindLeaps through my acquaintance with the Executive Director, Rebecca Davis. Th is a wonderful organization that, through the medium of dance, helps get homeless children off the streets and into a learning environment. Through the physical joy of moving their young bodies to music, and the discipline of daily practice, (and with the aid of a square meal and adult support), these children eventually build up a set of cognitive skills that will give them self-confidence and lead to them to further opportunities to take classes in English and computer skills, and get off the streets into a better way of life. It is a joyful organization that helps many children.

I am so proud to volunteer for this amazing organisation. MindLeaps combines my two passions, helping others and teaching dance. The first time I heard Rebecca speak after receiving the Generous Hearts Award at the Dance Studio Life conference, I knew I wanted to become involved. I feel very fortunate that I can help out this passionate cause. MindLeaps is changing lives for the better and inspiring others to do so along the way.