Movement That Moves Lives
Our Misson
Soul Dancers is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of Medellín’s most vulnerable youth. We provide world-class dance education and a structured pathway to global opportunity, proving that where you start doesn’t have to define where you go.
The Challenge: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
In the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Medellín, Colombia, children face a daily reality of systemic lack of opportunity. For many, the streets offer more danger than hope, with youth constantly at risk of violence, social isolation, and the heavy psychological burden of extreme poverty.
Without a safe space to grow or positive role models to follow, the cycle of poverty often remains unbroken. We believe no child should have their potential capped by their zip code.
Provides Safety
A reliable, structured environment away from street violence.
Builds Character
Teaching the discipline, resilience, and focus required of professional athletes.
Fosters Empowerment
Helping youth overcome low self-esteem to envision a life of global possibility.
Our Solution: Dance as Social Intervention
Soul Dancers provides a creative sanctuary. By bringing children off the streets and into a supportive community, we use movement as a tool for radical social intervention. We do more than teach steps; we address the emotional and developmental gaps left by poverty. Our program is designed to:
A donation of $25 pays for one student to experience
6 months of the following:
Weekly Dance Lessons
We provide dance classes for different rhythms, from basic to advanced levels, always having as a priority the fun, the development of the children and respecting their age and their social environment.
Year-End Recital
Each year the result of the teamwork during 12 months of practice is shown in the different artistic dance presentations, in different theatres of the city with open public where children, youth and parents participate.
Donations
Thanks to each Limelight sale, donations are made for transportation subsidies, sports clothing and extra dance classes for the children and youth of the project.
English Lessons
The development of a new language is essential to access to global opportunities that society offers, so we provide English lessons weekly to children between 8 and 15 years old.
Our Locations
Villa Danza
Villa Danza is a dance academy and it's one of the first places we started to work with between 2015 and 2016. It's a small place but it's well distributed for sharing space between regular Villa Danza students and Soul Dancers students that attend classes mostly on Saturdays. Advanced students attend classes during the week as well. From the mentioned permanence of some of the students, they have become teachers of classes such as ballet (for younger students) and street dance.
Fundación Eudes
Founded in Bogotá by a Catholic priest and expanded to Medellín, this charity houses children whose parents cannot care for them during the week. Through Fundación Eudes, residents receive formal schooling and onsite medical care for various health conditions, though all specific diagnoses remain strictly confidential to protect their privacy. While the foundation recently opened a new residential project for adults with specialized medical needs, our efforts remain focused on supporting the children's growth and well-being.
Fundación El Bohío de María
Located in Copacabana (town at the north of Medellín). This place has capacity for 250 kids aprox. and has a similar but bigger structure than Fundación Eudes. The place houses kids (mostly girls) who can't live at their families houses because of the lack of appropriate conditions. Kids visit their families twice per month and pass through a system of internal education, inside the program and based on their discipline they earn certain benefits such as a private room. Kids attend school besides the building and older kids have access to technical education if they finish high school before 18 and show potential. It's important to acknowledge that in Colombia kids are helped by these places until they turn 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
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100% of all of the money goes directly to the kids distributed across our 3 locations.
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Simply email us at info@souldancers.org and we’ll arrange a time to chat via phone
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Absolutely. Soul Dancers is a registered charity and all funds are processed through CanadaHelps – the largest processor of online security and mutual fund donations in Canada.
Two ways to donate
Two ways to donate
All donations go through CanadaHelps.
Higher tax savings for you.
A donation of securities or mutual fund shares is the most efficient way to give charitably since the capital gains tax does not apply.
Safe and secure.
CanadaHelps is the largest processor of online security and mutual fund donations in Canada. You can easily make a securities donation across multiple charities.
Give more, receive more.
Your security or mutual fund donation means a larger donation for the charity. It also means a larger charitable tax receipt for you.