Niyo Cultural Centre

Niyo Cultural Centre teaches traditional Rwandan drumming and dance to impoverished children. The centre uses this forms of expressions to give children the confidence and inspiration to use their skills to earn money for their own education, medical expenses and day-to-day living.

Niyonsenga Pacifique is the founder of the Niyo Cultural Centre dedicated to improving the lives of street children. He lived on the street from age 6 but was lucky enough to have met a Canadian called Bruno who befriended him and helped him get an education. As an adult he saw that not every child living in poverty in Kigali, Rwanda, whether on the street or not, has the same opportunity as he did, so he decided to use his 17 years of drumming and dance experience to support 60 children. He teaches them these skills so that they can perform to earn money to pay for their education, medical expenses and day-to-day living. They don’t get paid for their performances; they rely on donations from venue patrons to help give these children a chance.