For children in asylum-seeker centers: We offer empowering programs that help children recover from trauma, learn new skills, and build a sense of belonging through dance and sports.

For women in shelters: Our initiatives aim to provide healing and support for women in shelter care by using dance and sports as therapeutic tools, helping them regain strength and confidence.

The first Move Forward project started in Haiti back in 2014. After a small crowdfunding campaign a team of 6 volunteers went to Haiti to start a community project in Kenscoff. This became a successful basketball and dance program for 83 teenagers who just had experienced an earthquake, hurricane and cholera outbreak. After Haiti we have created many community projects and programs in the Netherlands, Suriname, Kenya and Mexico.

In 2017 and 2018 we have done successful community projects in Suriname and decided in the Summer of 2023 to do our comeback. This was well received by many familiar faces. That made us decide to start the fundraising for a larger community project in 2024.

In 2021, at the request of a local NGO, we went to Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya. We were asked to implement basketball and boxing in their community. Together with the partner organization, we managed to bring a basket to the community and boxing equipment. We also helped find local basketball and boxing coaches. In 2022, we decided to temporarily pause this project. Our plan is to go back as soon as there is space to set up a community project at our local partner organization’s new community center.

In 2022, we started the Move Forward Mexico project. We started with a community project, but we were soon directed to the women’s shelters. We found out that there were no dance or sports activities taking place since the pandemic. So we decided to focus on giving weekly classes to these girls and women. During this project in the Mexican shelters, the idea for the Hidden Girls project was born.