Andrea Kerzner

Lalela provides educational arts for at-risk youth to spark creative thinking and awaken the entrepreneurial spirit. We believe in the power of arts education to advance academic performance and to build the character and life-skills needed for more meaningful career opportunities. By activating whole-brain and creative thinking, we aim to encourage children to dream about a different future, as well as provide them with the tools to manifest these dreams. The word “lalela”, which is the Zulu word for “to listen”, is at the very heart of what Lalela Project does. By listening to children’s individual stories, we strive to give children a voice through art, and build children’s imagination so they can dream bigger than what their current circumstances allow. By empowering a child to see possibilities in his or her future, we can break the cycle of extreme poverty, one child at a time. What We Do Lalela Project works with children ages 6 to 18, mostly in Africa. Through our innovative arts curriculum, we provide a safe space during vulnerable after-school and holiday hours for youth to explore their creative potential, empowering them through fun art projects while also steering them away from hazards such as gang violence, drug use and disease. We also organize art exchanges between schools in Africa and the United States, exposing both to the artwork and culture of their friends across the globe.