DREAMTOWN
DREAMTOWN
For the last decade, I have been shaping stories at Dreamtown, where we create space for young people in cities. What began as a small volunteer initiative has evolved into something profound: a global NGO where storytelling isn't just communication — it's part of our core. Heading our Global Storytelling and Innovation, I weave narratives that bridge gaps between stakeholders in the attempt to transform how we create change.
We create space
for young people in cities.
We work directly with youth living in informal settlements and slums across Sub-Saharan Africa, guided by young people’s dreams and focused on making public spaces more accessible and inclusive.
By 2027, we aim to support the transformation of 100 urban spaces across cities in Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe. The ultimate goal is to enable young people to participate meaningfully in civil society and create futures together.
[The Story]
It started in a dimly lit room in Freetown, Sierra Leone more than a decade ago as a small volunteer project by some friends. It was called Dreamtown and aimed to support non-formal education. Since then it has transformed into something much more impactful.
Picture this: from a volunteer initiative to nine full-time staff in Copenhagen, working with eight local partner organisations in 34 communities with 200+ youth groups across four African countries, Dreamtown has become a catalyst for change. But numbers tell only part of the story. At its heart, this is about creating space - physical, political and creative - in cities where young people struggle to have their voice heard, especially in the informal settlements of the fast growing cities across the continent.
[Recent Films]
[Our Impact Story so far]
0
+
People impacted
by Dreamtown's projects
by Dreamtown's projects
0
Communities served
across five countries
across five countries
0
Youth groups supported
through eight partner organisations
through eight partner organisations
[What We Do]
In Kenya's informal settlements, Dreamtown is transforming concrete jungles into vibrant community parks through the Cool Waters initiative, partnering with Public Space Network and Mathare Social Justice Centre. What started as polluted riverbanks and illegal dumpsites has blossomed into green recreational spaces where young people lead environmental transformation.
Uganda's story unfolds in hundreds of urban gardens across Kampala, where Network for Active Citizens helps youth turn vacant lots into thriving green spaces. These gardens serve as living classrooms for climate adaptation while providing food security and entrepreneurial opportunities, proving that dignity can take root in the most unexpected places.
In Zimbabwe, the creative pulse of House of Arts and Yellow World echoes through spaces where young people find their voice through art and sports. These creative hubs aren't just venues - they're catalysts for community development, turning artistic expression into social change.
In Sierra Leone, where it all began, we focus on IT hubs and non-formal education, where young women blend digital skills with traditional crafts like tailoring and catering. All with the focus on starting their own businesses and becoming independant.
[Global Storytelling]
But Dreamtown isn't just about building spaces - it's also about sharing stories and research. Through a multitude of global storytelling initiatives, like our Metropolis project, we connect youth through narratives, films, experiences, engagement projects, while our community journalists document change from within. Every documentary, every podcast, every story we tell is another thread in this tapestry of transformation.
It's a quiet revolution, happening one urban garden, one IT hub, one story, one young person at a time.
[Dreamtown's Recent Storytelling Initiatives]
