I am going to run the Vitality Big Half Marathon on the 10th of March, 2019. This is in order to raise money for the amazing organisation, MindLeaps. Their mission is to:

"use dance to develop the cognitive skills and social-emotional learning of at-risk youth to ensure that they can succeed in school, enter the workplace and leap forward in life" ( https://mindleaps.org )

MindLeaps works predominantly in Rwanda and Guinea, but also have programmes running in Mauritania, Kenya and Uganda. There are so, so, soo many amazing things to say about this organisation, and is one I feel super strongly about, hence the half marathon to raise money lol.

Also to mention, this is my first half marathon, and even my first proper official race. Being at dance school I have found training so so difficult at points already. I incredibly appreciate any donations for me to run this half marathon, so I can send off a big sum to this organisation I feel so enthusiastic about.

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou !!! :)

p.s. this is Zani, and she is a 16-year-old refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who came to Uganda in 2013. She was orphaned at four years old and is now living in Nsambya, Kampala, with a mother and father who are not her biological parents. She speaks four languages fluently: Lingala, Swahili, French and English.

Zani first joined the MindLeaps program in 2017 through the refugee organization HIAS. From the beginning she worked hard, and MindLeaps teachers recall a particular day during the second week when they were busy changing the music at one point during class. When they turned around, Zani was leading her peers in the warm up and counting out loud since there was no music!

Zani had to drop out of school due to lack of school fees. But her interests lay in dance and she continued to excel. Because of her love of dance and her commitment to MindLeaps, she was chosen to attend the Train The Trainer program and became a qualified MindLeaps instructor.

With the money she earns as a trainer, Zani is now the sole breadwinner for her family. Her guardians suffer ailments that limit their ability to work, so Zani is their source of support. She has continued to hone her dance and teaching skills by taking part in an intensive training program in Rwanda with the MindLeaps international team.

With her dedication and enthusiasm, Zani has not only become a role model for other refugee youth in her community, but has also enabled MindLeaps to reach many other disadvantaged children in local communities.