Our Mission
To bring people together and transform lives of children through cross-cultural experiences and education.
Our Vision
To build societies where all communities can thrive.
To bring people together and transform lives of children through cross-cultural experiences and education.
To build societies where all communities can thrive.
World Bridge Foundation is a 501(c) 3 organisation that supports cross-cultural experiences that promote diversity and facilitates processes of transformation in underserved communities. We partner with nonprofit organizations, learning institutions, community based organizations, social enterprises and individuals to curate and implement programs needed to address social challenges in order to improve livelihoods in these respective communities.
At the World Bridge Foundation we also believe that investing in young people, women and marginalized groups living in underserved communities is the best way to create regenerative livelihoods capable of creating stability for families.
We provide grassroots training and support in the areas of: Education, Arts, Life-skills and Talent development to enable local communities to have the tools and power to compete in global markets and have access to unlimited opportunities.
OUTREACH EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDE AND OUTLET FOR CHILDREN TO EXCELL ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY
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In 2023, World Bridge Foundation will bring 20 young performers of Dance of Hope from Uganda to schools, festivals, communities and main stages in North America. All touring participants are children who come from the worst environments imaginable, using music and the arts to turn their negative stories into positive ones while inspiring audiences to do the same.
Through a series of North America-wide concerts, Dance of Hope will bring Africa’s young cast of performers to showcase a resilience born out of sounds that enhance creativity, grit and change. This vibrant music, dance and storytelling spectacular will visit schools, performing arts centers, festivals and communities. Africa’s young cast of performers showcase a resilience born out of sounds that enhance creativity, grit and change. The Dance of Hope “Changing the World” tour will deliver life changing programs to children in schools, hospitals, shelters and communities in need that cannot afford to access such arts programs, and to families and communities across the US.
Read MoreDance of Hope is a leading cultural arts education program that captures messages of hope and resilience that emanate from cross-cultural experiences, performances and residences.This program connects, inspires and empowers young people and communities globally to explore the primal transforming power of music, dance and storytelling while bringing awareness and raising support to provide quality education to children and improve the way of life in impoverished communities.
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to support the communities we serve
Gifts are deductible to the full extent allowable under IRS regulations.
Make a real connection with the community and a huge impact on a daily basis to make a difference in the lives of children worldwide.
An opportunity for your business to be a leading driving force in the local and global community transformation.
Help us raise $60,000 to bring DANCE OF HOPE to USA for the CHANGING THE WORLD
USA Tour 2023.
Kirsten Lyerly is a public health professional who is passionate about connecting people and cultures and using those connections to improve the health and livelihoods of populations across the globe.
Growing up in a household where exposure to cultures was prominent (tribute to her father), Kirsten’s interest and passion for this type of work happened at a young age and quickly became part of who she is as a person and professional.
Kirsten has a background in public health, earning both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Public Health from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. From there, she has spent over a decade serving in various roles in public health / business development across the NGO, academia, government and military sectors. Encompassing the mission of World Bridge Foundation, Kirsten has immersed herself in different cultures through personal and professional experiences to play a role in connecting people across cultures and creating equitable opportunities for proper healthcare and resources.
Currently, Kirsten works in business development at Castlight Health, a digital health navigation company, whose mission it is to make it as easy as humanly possible for individuals to navigate the American healthcare system and live happier, healthier, more productive lives.
Dr. BENJAMIN GILMER is a family physician and Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Mountain Area Health Education Center’s (MAHEC) Family Medicine Residency Program. He attended Davidson College and studied medicine at the Sorbonne and East Carolina University. As the Medical Director for MAHEC's Rural Health Initiative and Rural Fellowship, he is passionate about advocating for global and rural health disparities. He has worked extensively in Central and South America and West Africa. Benjamin is committed to advancing medical education, point of care ultrasound, interprofessional collaboration and inspiring students to pursue rural health. His advocacy work currently focuses on bringing media attention to the social injustice of treating mental illness in our prison system. His book, “The Other Dr. Gilmer” (Ballantine) and upcoming film project (Concordia Films) both highlight the injustice of mass incarceration of people with mental illness. A former neurobiologist turned rural family doctor, Dr. Gilmer has lectured across the country about medical ethics, rural health, bias in medicine, and criminal justice reform. He lives with his wife, Deirdre, two children, Kai and Luya, and their dog Prince Peanut Butter in Asheville, North Carolina.
Stella Kinobe is a co-founder of World Bridge Foundation. Born and growing up in Uganda, she experienced numerous challenges as a young girl and lived through it all with resilience.
After quickly realizing early on that she was on her own, she promised herself that if she made it, she would do everything possible to change the lives of others, and help them not to experience the same. After completing her university studies in business administration, Stella relocated to the United States where she worked in the banking sector with First National Bank and then M&T Bank. After working in the corporate field for several years, she decided to focus on fulfilling her life passion of helping communities in need. She joined Open Doors of Asheville; a US based local non-profit that strengthens community by eliminating the race-based opportunity andachievement gaps for students through education.
I grew up in central Ohio. I’m an avid hockey fan and love the outdoors. I received my undergraduate degree in economics from Ohio State University and my Master of Science in aviation management and logistics from Kent State University. My master’s thesis was entitled “Has aviation improved economic efficiency of the human trafficking market?” where I explore the economic impact of improved transportation infrastructure on trafficking methodologies. Through this research I discovered that the best defense against human trafficking is by educating underserved communities about the topic, as well as providing resources to ensure the validity of international job offers (a common ruse). My goal is to disrupt the market and make it as difficult as possible for traffickers to succeed. Such a disruption will lead to traffickers taking greater risks in victim acquisition leading to a higher arrest rate and driving up the price when selling which would shrink the overall market. I believe cross-cultural education is critical to a successful society and am extremely excited to work with the World Bridge Foundation to reduce this global pandemic.
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.
Kinobe was born in Uganda where he and his family lived through poverty.During that period many children lost their parents to HIV/AIDS and the war in Northern Uganda. In 2000, after performing a song on the World Aids Day, he was invited to UNICEF by H.E. Michel Sidibe, and shortly became a UNICEF advocate for children on topics of child labor, HIV and girl education.
Kinobe’s music took a big turn towards social work and soon started touring extensively in throughout Africa, Europe and North America, performing,teaching and working with young people. In 2012 he was appointed World Ambassador for the Harmony Foundation (CANADA) supporting their important work on environmental protection and social development and improving the lives of children and their families around the world.
