Uganda is said to be one of the worst places in the world to be a child, and watching the footage in a new documentary, Bouncing Cats, I know this is true. These kids have grown up with not just extreme poverty and rampant AIDS, but also the terror that at any moment they might be kidnapped and forced to fight in an army of children. They are the victims of a battle between a greedy, crazed dictator and a desperate, crazed rebel leader. It’s difficult to even imagine what this must be like for a child. And of course, many of their parents have been killed or died of AIDS, so they are also orphans.
Into this horrendous environment went legendary breakdancer Crazy Legs of the Rock Steady Crew to visit b-boy Abramz, founder of 
Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU). Together they have undertaken a journey to inspire these disheartened (and often literally hungry) children by simply teaching them how to dance. It costs the children nothing, yet by learning these moves, they finally have something to which they can claim ownership. This simple fact is enough to shift many of them from a downward spiral that ultimately would lead to crime, to a life of hope and, within their limited sphere, responsibility and even leadership. With the unemployment rate for Ugandan youth ages 14 to 24 at 83 percent, that’s significant.
Watching the smiles on these beautiful (and many of them are truly gorgeous) children’s faces is enough to make me whip out my wallet. And it’s a good thing, because any money raised by the film gets pumped right back into BPU.
Watch the film November 19, 8pm on the Documentary Channel. If you miss it then, you’ll have five more opportunities over the next two months. Get inspired!
—Abigail Lewis
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