RESIDENCIES & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Born and raised in Uganda, Chinobay's musical journey began in an underprivileged family. He immersed himself in the rich tradition of Buganda musicians whose melodies resonated from the nearby Kanyange king’s palace. Drawing inspiration from these musicians, Chinobay's early work revitalized folk classics on various instruments. Today, as a songwriter, educator, and intercultural facilitator, his original compositions vividly bring people’s stories to life, showcasing the multifaceted richness of Africa beyond just its struggles.

As the child of two dedicated school teachers, Chinobay's commitment to using arts education as a catalyst for social change follows in his parents' footsteps. His cross-cultural journey commenced during elementary school, when he toured Europe in 1995, sharing the vibrant sounds of Uganda with fellow school children as part of a cultural troupe. In 1999, his musical prowess caught the attention of UNICEF Ambassador to Uganda, Michel Sidibe, leading to Chinobay's involvement in the GEM (Girl Education Movement) initiative. This campaign advocated for free education for girls who had been denied this opportunity. Through UNICEF, Chinobay conducted seminars and workshops where his music became a powerful tool to reach and educate people in rural areas about the importance of women’s education. This pivotal role as a UNICEF ambassador steered Chinobay towards social responsibility, shaping his music's focus towards socially relevant themes with the aim of enhancing children’s lives.

These formative international and philanthropic experiences culminated in the establishment of Dance of Hope. Here, young performers from underprivileged and challenging backgrounds converge to harness the transformative and healing power of music. They refine their skills in music, dance, and percussion, and offer workshops globally to children and families in diverse communities. In 2019, Chinobay also founded and currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of the 501(c)3 organization, World Bridge Foundation, a philanthropic endeavor dedicated to improving the livelihoods of vulnerable children.

Alan has over 35 years of experience in senior management positions in a global enterprise, being an executive coach, a trainer and a consultant. He has a demonstrated track record of success coaching leaders to realize breakthrough results, utilizing his unique talent for disruptive/context shifting interactions. Alan brings a commitment to optimizing leadership performance and realizing professional fulfillment to each of his coaching clients. He can be counted on to bring joy to the client and the coaching process!

Prior to his professional coaching career Alan hired, trained and mentored over 100 managers and leaders. He successfully launched and grew several new operation centers for an international training and development company. He was known in this company as someone who could both design new products and processes as well as take failing parts of the enterprise and turn them into successes. His eye was always on the employees AND the bottom line.

Alan holds a Bachelor in Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Social Inquiry. He has post-graduate training and expertise in strategic design, business management and practical philosophy. He is also a trained individual and group counselor. While Alan has deep expertise in business, he is also passionate about serving international non-profits. He gets great joy from helping them realize their missions and elevating the culture of the organization.

Gilad Babchuk has extensive experience establishing, developing and running various organizations, and has founded or co-founded over 15 social enterprises, academic programs, and NGOs both as an educator and social entrepreneur. Gilad consults several international companies and institutions in the fields of e-learning and progressive education and does business development consulting for a multi-national biotech company.

In 2012 Gilad co-founded the innovative alternative business school Groundswell and serves as its Executive Director. Groundswell pioneers a new way to support aspiring entrepreneurs and individuals who want to develop their ideas into sustainable social enterprises, taking a holistic approach to education by incubating the individual, not just the business idea, within an ecosystem of support.

Groundswell has supported the launch and growth of nearly 100 social ventures.

Lutwama Muhammed is the former Executive director at ACTogether Uganda an NGO linked to SLUM DWELLERS INTERNATIONAL and for over a decade, he has mobilized people living in informal settlements to build voices that can lead to total transformation and improvement of standards of living.

He worked with the ministry of lands, housing and urban development in Uganda, to formulate the Uganda national Urban policy, National Slum Upgrading strategy and National solid Waste management strategy.

FHe has worked with Cities Alliance and World Bank supported initiatives as a key strategist in the implementation of Transformation of Settlements of the urban poor in Uganda, Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development projects where he mobilized 100,000 slum dwellers families in 14 Municipalities to effectively participate as beneficiaries.

Mr. Lutwama has been a member of the Uganda National Urban forum - a think tank on urban issues, worked with Kampala Capital city Authority on the advisory committee on urban renewal, United Nations Development Program, UN-HABITAT and Department For International Development.

Mr. Lutwama worked as programs coordinator at MLISADA in 200, designing programs that helped to support the marginalized children in the slums and streets of Kampala

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in social work and social administration and a masters in social sector planning and management.

In 1996, 12-year-old orphan Segawa Bosco was living on the streets of Kampala with his three younger sisters. One day, he witnessed children playing brass band music at a private school and asked the administrators to teach him music too. Initially met with refusal, Bosco persisted, showing up at the school every day until they relented. They agreed to teach Bosco and his friends on weekends and holidays. Within a few months, they all became proficient in playing brass band instruments, providing a means of support for themselves.

The group secured a sponsor to cover their rent for two rooms where they stored their instruments and slept. With a desire for a better life for other street children, they opened the doors to these rooms, offering a relative haven to desperate children. Bosco's determined focus inspired these children to turn their lives around. They called themselves M-LISADA (Music, Life Skills, and Destitution Alleviation), marking the genesis of the M-Lisada Children’s Home, now a highly respected orphanage in Kampala. Over 400 children have been rescued from the streets, with 50 residing in the organization's housing, and an additional 80 seeking refuge every day for showers, food, counseling, music lessons, a safe place to play, and unwavering support.

Co-founder of Dance of Hope, Bosco envisioned it as a pathway for the M-LISADA children to share their music, dance, and stories with global communities.

Bagonza Herman is a Ugandan Artistic Consultant, Creative Facilitator, and Performer with experience in the areas of Classical and East African music, dance, and drama with a particular focus on supporting Youth in Development initiatives through the creative arts.

Herman has worked with In Movement: Art for Social Change, as a Music Education lead facilitator for the organization’s multidisciplinary arts education program, which was designed to empower underserved Ugandan youth by providing intensive creativity-based trainings to youth workers, teachers, counselors, social artists, and other partners in youth development.

Currently, Herman works with the Center for Creativity and Capacity Building, helping facilitators, artists and professionals on the organizational, corporate and individual levels through creative group facilitation and interactive team building activities.

He also works with M-LISADA organization, to help rehabilitate children and enhance their potential through the art of music

Since 2014, Herman has also worked closely with members of the New York University (USA) community, training and supporting twenty NYU students annually over the course of a two-week arts exchange program, culminating in the group performing a traditional dance routine on the Ugandan national stage at the end of their mini-course.

Herman earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Music in 2007 from Makerere University of Uganda.

A music lover, entrepreneur, adventure seeker and philanthropist at heart. Dima has a unique way of seeing opportunities and creating lasting win/win relationships. You will find Dima at a jam party he organized behind a smoking BBQ enjoying the vibes and the pleasure of bringing the local music and community together and feeding dozens of people. Dima holds Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) from UBC.

Working in the development and construction industry over the last 11 years, Dima has built a reputation for delivering projects on time, on budget, and of the highest quality. Being involved in construction projects as large as $160M, Dima brings business mindset, structure, execution,organization and just like the rest of our team he dreams BIG.