No Plan B - A Hope Masterclass from the Ghetto

Today’s Hope Dispatch is a little different. I was profoundly moved by this story and wanted to share it with you because it reveals the anatomy of hope - proving that hope doesn’t depend on perfect conditions or luck, but on people – agents – with a vision and yearning for something better, loving hearts willing to see potential and courage to act to lift others up. These are its parts. And each of us is better at some of those dimensions than others. So as you listen to the story, I invite you to imagine what you can strengthen in yourself to become a better agent of hope.

When Kavuma Dauda talks about the ghetto he comes from, he doesn’t describe it as a place of despair. He describes it as a mine of raw talent “you just have to polish it”. And why wouldn’t it be peppered with rough gems? Every child has potential but some are never given opportunities and pathways to shine.

As you can imagine - life as a street kid in Uganda is marked by constant uncertainty and survival on the margins. Many children end up on the streets after losing parents to illness or poverty and from that moment on every day becomes a negotiation for safety, food, and dignity. They sleep on pavements, in train stations, or under bridges, exposed to heat, monsoon rains, and violence. Hunger is a daily ache, and access to clean water or healthcare is rare. To survive, many beg, sell small items, or collect recyclables, while navigating the ever-present risk of exploitation and abuse. 

Amid hardship, resilience expresses itself in these kids. Friendships form in the chaos, laughter still erupts in dusty alleyways, and small acts of care between children become lifelines of hope in an often indifferent world.

As an orphaned boy living on the streets of Kampala, Uganda, Kavuma had two loves: dance and football. He would hang around the football fields watching local games, but he wasn’t just there for the goals. He’d stand behind the net, waiting for the moment the ball went in and then he’d show off his fancy football footwork, and he would dance.

Those post-goal celebrations became his stage. Each flick, spin, and kick was an act of self-expression, a way to remind himself that he was still alive, still capable of joy, even when life was hard. The crowd noticed. What started as a distraction soon became a performance. And for Kavuma, it was the beginning of a lifelong philosophy: there’s gold in everyone, even in the ghetto. You just have to polish it.

One teacher changed everything for him. Seeing a spark in the boy who danced behind the goal, that teacher offered kindness, a meal, and eventually, an education. That act of grace became a turning point. That single act of kindness changed everything – it planted a seed that would grow into something extraordinary.

Years later, Kavuma became a teacher himself. He didn’t forget the kids that had become his makeshift family in the streets he once called home. He gathered them. 

He founded Ghetto Kids, a dance troupe made up of children who were homeless or unable to afford school fees. The group blended traditional African dance, comedy, and unfiltered joy.

First came collaborations with Ugandan artists like Eddy Kenzo, and then, in 2017, a life-changing moment when the Ghetto Kids featured in French Montana’s music video Unforgettable, which has now been watched over 1.8 billion times. From there, they danced their way onto the stage of Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, all smiles and rhythm and bursting with gratitude.

Getting recognition opened doors, but Kavuma didn’t use it to climb out alone, he used it to lift others. That tiny seed of potential was nurtured and grew into a tree that provided shade to others.

Ghetto Kids now provides housing, food, and education for many children across Uganda. Their story is told beautifully in their documentary, Ghetto Kids: No Plan B.

So this shows us that Hope has never needed likely or perfect conditions to grow. In fact, it can express itself in dire conditions. All it needs a spark, and someone willing to fan the flame.

Kavuma’s story reminds me that potential often hides in plain sight, waiting for belief to bring it forward. That hope isn’t about waiting for better circumstances; it’s about transforming what’s already here.

It’s also an invitation to polish what’s within and around us, to notice the hidden gems in our midst, and to remember that joy and creativity are renewable resources, even in the hardest places. I sense we may be heading into tougher times, which means we’ll need to become true masters of hope-holding. Not just believers in hope, but active agents in its fulfilment.

xx Megan

Ghetto Kids Movie: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhdu8QCdK3Jt4uFDvXlFkj7g_JmFVGHI2

BBC story: https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/w3ct6xct

Interview with Kavuma about Britains Got Talent.