Social Media

Kumari
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kumari.middleton
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KumariMiddleton

Mayibuye
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mayibuyeinc

Biography

Profile

Kumari, at just 26, has become a professional dancer, volunteered around the world, and in 2009 co-founded the multi-national youth aid organisation Mayibuye.  This organisation, of which she is currently the CEO, is changing the lives of thousands of Australians and South Africans and is now expanding to bring its message to Cambodia.

Growing up, Kumari volunteered for the Sri Lankan Children's Welfare Trust, assisting to raise money for the orphanage she was adopted from. At 16 she lived in Brazil for a year on student exchange and returned later to work with young children and orphans at risk. She has dedicated herself to youth welfare and poverty alleviation for the past 12 years; working with Breaking Free, Oaktree Foundation, RYPEN camp, and the Make Poverty History Roadtrip.

This young Victorian, passionate about dance and welfare, studied full time dance at Dance Factory in Melbourne and Broadway Dance Center in New York. She has performed professionally in various stage and television productions. Unfortunately, she became seriously ill in 2007 whilst performing in New York and was forced to return home to Melbourne.

Kumari's passion for dance lived on and the idea of combining this with her passion for welfare gave formation to Mayibuye in 2009. Mayibuye uses performing arts to facilitate educational opportunities for young people who are vulnerable to negative peer pressures and at risk behaviour.

South Africa is currently Mayibuye's foremost destination for creating social change. This nation suffers high rates of unemployment, homicide, and HIV. Mayibuye reaches out to young adults prone to negative peer pressures and substance abuse, who graduate high school with little chance of finding employment or purpose in their lives.

Dance is a major part of South African culture, creating positive feelings of passion, pride and friendships. Unfortunately, in underprivileged communities there is often no organisation in place for dancers to thrive and learn. Mayibuye facilitates that need, combining it with life lessons on sexual education, substance abuse, leadership, and career planning.

Twelve projects are run across Mayibuye's 3 destinations. Performance troupes and HIV education run in both Australia and South Africa. In Australia Mayibuye also offers 'Stand Centre Front' (young dancers conference), and a holiday program for students. South African projects include a Youth Development Forum, full time dance and life skills courses and micro-financing projects. Work in Cambodia has only just begun but the Mayibuye team are determined to help the Cambodian young people and to preserve their culture.

Mayibuye fosters a culture of volunteerism. A background in volunteering creates self-confidence and leadership qualities and many South Africans have used their experience as volunteers for Mayibuye to find employment and scholarships. Kumari has said, "Instead of going overseas and solely providing aid, let's work together to develop young people through volunteerism so that they can take back their future."

Kumari is currently the Board Director for Women with Disabilities Victoria, and sits on the Young Social Pioneers Advisory Board. She has qualifications in Community Development, Adult HIV Education and Dance and Performance. She has been selected for a scholarship to attend the School of Social Entrepreneurs in Melbourne, a Young Social Pioneers Fellowship from Foundation for Young Australians, for Australia's Brightest Young Minds Summit, Cordes Fellowship in Mexico and the Australian Youth Led Convention. Kumari is now studying Criminal Justice at Monash University while developing her exciting plans for the Mayibuye team in Cambodia.

Interview

Who or what inspired you to create Mayibuye?

My co-founder is South African, and he was doing a show and talking about the young people he was working with. He found out that I was a dancer, and said dancing was huge in the community. He wanted me to come over and teach them, but at the time I couldn't. So later I decided to start an organisation to help him, and the idea just kept growing bigger, way bigger than just a dance troupe.

What obstacles have you had to overcome to find success?

I think resilience is a big one. A lot of people don't think you can do it because you're so young or you don't have the experience to sustain it. It's important to be resilient, to always bounce back from those comments, and always believe that anything is possible. Being young means you are always passionate and enthusiastic and that can drive you really far. Young people have passion, enthusiasm and the determination to change things. 

How did you transform your idea of Mayibuye into a reality?

We had a lot of luck, I think.  We decided we were doing it, but we didn't really know how. I'm a dancer but I didn't really have the business skills or management experience. We'd go to somewhere to register this and they would tell us we have to do that and the next people tell us we have to do that. So it was a lot of luck and getting to the right people that directed us in the way we needed to go.

Why have you chosen dance as a platform for change?

I knew how much dance had changed my own life. It allows you to escape anything else that is going on, so  you can be yourself in the music and the moment and be any character you want to be. It builds confidence. Performing makes you realise you can do more, and it creates a common ground where everybody understands each other and can work together. It's also a fun way to engage with young people and it keeps them enthusiastic and they get to try new things. Instead of just coming and teaching life skills we've got a fun creative element that they can thrive in as well.

Tell us about Mayibuye's latest expansion to Cambodia?

We're really excited. We're launching in Cambodia in January. We're working in a rural community at a local community school. In Cambodia, public schooling is free but you have to pay teachers for tests or hand-outs so a lot of kids still can't afford to go. A local community school has just been set up and absolutely everything is free. They want us to come and run their arts curriculum and try to get young kids to think for themselves and think creatively around problem solving, and to have experiences of dance and music and art.

How can volunteerism change the lives of volunteers?

It's huge. It gives people experience and connections. Our organisation puts international perspectives on a lot of issues. Being surrounded by like-minded people can change what you think is possible. Seeing other people do something can inspire you to do more and make you believe that you can.

How can other young Australians get involved with your project?

We have volunteer opportunities in South Africa, Australia and Cambodia. You don't have to be a dance teacher to work with us. We have a range of different opportunities working in operations or projects. If people are enthusiastic and want to make a difference to youth they can visit our website: www.mayibuye.org.au.

Public Speaking

Kumari is available for public speaking engagements.

If you are interested in having Kumari speak at your link, please follow the link below:

Request Kumari as a Speaker

Kumari speaking at TEDxMelbourne