Our Ubuntu Dream Fund is working for a world
where every child in Africa has the opportunity of going to school.
30 million children in sub-Saharan Africa don’t go to school.
One-fifth of children ages 6-11 are not in school.
60% of children ages of 15-18 are not in school.
Despite these large numbers, choosing to do something small, is better than doing nothing at all.
It starts with one child and then another child, and another. “Ubuntu is simply Humanity to Others.”
Ubuntu is an ancient African word which translates to humanity to others. The Africans described Ubuntu as
“I am what I am, because of who we all are”.
ABOUT
Everyone asks me why am I doing this?
Because I didn’t realize how little it takes to make such a big difference in this world.
Hi, I’m Siena Apodaca, and last year I started my mission in life to make a difference for three children in South Africa by raising money for their education.
It only costs $350 to educated 1 child for a year! This is something I know I can do. After doing my junior research project, I realize that poverty and health has a strong correlation and so does the relationship between poverty and education. How does anyone get a head in life when they are born into poverty?
I can’t stop poverty and I can’t find a solution for 30 million children, but If I can help 3 children get a better education, so that they can have a brighter future, then I know they will help their communities. Maybe someday these 3 children will turn into 9, then 27 and maybe even 100 children. That’s when a mission is truly a passion.
I am 17 years old and a pre-professional ballet dancer, and after all the accomplishments I have achieved in the ballet world for the last several years, one would assume that the obvious choice of a career would be a dancer. This is not the case for me, because my lifelong dream and passion is to become a doctor and help others. I have always been a compassionate person and have never shied away from helping a friend or any person overcome a difficult challenge or even guiding them through an emotional time.
So last year, I decided to move towards my burning hunger to help others and I started my education fund, “The Ubuntu Education Dream Fund”. Ubuntu is the African philosophy of “I am what I am because of who we all are”. I cannot help to think that I have had the most privileged education and that my entire life will stem from it, where some children are doomed merely because they don’t have access to education. This vision all started over a conversation with my grandfather from South Africa about the value of money and what the US dollar can buy in South Africa. It was in that moment that I realized I could have a major impact on some children’s lives in Africa.
I started with contacting all the families who worked in my grandfather’s store and had all the children send a video recording of what their dream life would look like if they could go to school. The most surprising lesson was that most of the children’s dreams were to become specialized, geared to help their community, hence Ubuntu. The hardest part was that I could only pay for three right now, but it is also very motivating to achieve more.
As I reflect on my high school journey at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, I feel deeply motivated, excited, and proud. The Dominican pillars are Faith, Integrity and Service, I believe that these were the virtues I carried with me from the first day I climbed up on the structure in kindergarten to my final camping trip in 8th grade and led our class to the top of the Grand Canyon. This will be a mountain I can’t wait to climb!
About Siena
Siena’s Dance Accomplishments include:
Top 12 (out of 800 participants) Youth American Grand Prix. 2018, 2021, 2023
2019 Received an award for Most Promising Dancer for ballet WBAC Grand Prix competition in San Diego.
Awarded 2nd place at the California Dance Classics in 2019 and 2022 for both ballet and contemporary.
Awarded with a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet Summer Program & Paris Opera Ballet School for the summer of 2019, Royal Ballet Summer Program in the UK for 2020 & English National Ballet School Summer Program in the UK for 2021 & 2022.
She has also been hired as a guest artist to perform the leading role of Sugar Plum Fairy in 2022 “The Nutcracker” for the Sierra Madre Dance Center.
Members of the Ubuntu Education Dream Fund
Siena Apodaca
Founder
Sebastian Apodaca
Program Development
Kim Apodaca
Coordinator
Hendrick Te Roller
Head of South African Logistics
OUR SUCCESS
We successfully paid for 3 students to go to school,
29,999,997 more to go!
The “Ubuntu Education Dream Fund” helps children in Africa with their school fees, uniforms, and school supplies. Natasha, Enoch & Sharon have started their journey to help others through their education.