Keep Eugene at UNCSA

Eugene Ochieng’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. He grew up in Kibera, one of Africa’s largest informal settlements, where he began dancing as a young boy in a classroom with no proper flooring, mirrors, or barres. In 2015, his life changed when he was awarded a full scholarship to train at Dance Centre Kenya and move into the Artist for Africa boarding house.

Eugene embraced every opportunity that came his way—quickly rising to perform lead roles such as Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream and the title roles in The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. In 2023, he and his partner, Keri Yamane, represented Kenya at an international ballet competition in Italy, where they won gold.

That same year, Eugene was offered a major scholarship to attend the prestigious University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). For the past two years, a generous donor has covered the remainder of his costs beyond tuition. Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances, that donor can no longer continue supporting him.

While Eugene’s tuition is fully covered, he still needs $12,000 annually to pay for housing, food, health insurance, and basic living expenses. In addition to excelling as a dancer, Eugene has maintained all A’s and B’s in his academic coursework at UNCSA.

It is my goal to find 24 donors willing to contribute $500 per year for the next two years. I’m especially reaching out to those who are alumni or otherwise connected to UNCSA and believe in the power of giving talented young artists the opportunity to thrive.

I completely understand that $500 may be a significant ask. Contributions can be made in one full amount or broken down into $45/month installments.

Please consider helping us keep Eugene’s dream alive. Every bit of support brings him closer to finishing what he has started so brilliantly.