Turning arts into opportunity: How Youth-to-Youth Fund transformed a refugee dance group

Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA (ILO News) – In a modest rehearsal space in the heart of Addis Ababa, the rhythmic beats and synchronised movements of young performers fill the air. This is Admas Dance Group, a collective of 15 talented refugee youth from Eritrea, who are not just performing; they are building a sustainable livelihood and a symbol of hope.

Led by 25-year-old Nahom Naizghi, who arrived in Ethiopia nine years ago, the group’s name “Admas”, means “horizon” in Tigrinya, a perfect reflection of the new possibilities they are chasing through the performing arts.

The challenge: High cost, limited opportunity

The group is a mosaic of talent, with members skilled in dance, acting, directing, and singing. They earn income by performing at wedding ceremonies and in music videos, bringing cultural richness to their audiences. However, their passion was hampered by a significant operational hurdle: the recurring high cost of renting essential traditional clothing for every show.

“We used to rent clothes for every show,” Nahom explains. “It was expensive and limited how often we could perform. We were trapped in a cycle of high costs that cut into our potential earnings.”

This constant expenditure was the single biggest threat to their dream of turning their artistic passion into a stable, sustainable enterprise.

© ILO/Zelalem Alemenew Desta

© ILO/Zelalem Alemenew Desta

The solution: a catalytic investment from Y2YF

The turning point came when Admas Dance Group secured support through the Youth-to-Youth Fund (Y2YF), a joint initiative by the National Young Women Charity Organization, Edukans Foundation Ethiopia, and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The group received a grant worth 70,000 Birr (approximately $500). Crucially, this support was strategically invested in their primary operational need: owning their traditional attire, alongside a new sound system to enhance their practice sessions.

“The support solved one of our biggest problems,” says Nahom. “Now we can perform more often without worrying about renting clothes. The Y2YF helped us convert a liability into an asset, immediately improving our profitability and capacity.”

Building digital presence

With the essential gear, the Group is performing more frequently, embracing digital platforms like TikTok and YouTube to attract new clients, and building a strong reputation in the local entertainment industry.

Looking ahead, Nahom and his team dream of expanding their group into a full-fledged music band that combines live music and dance. They hope to include other refugee youth who are passionate about the performing arts, creating a space for expression, inclusion, and economic opportunity.

“We want to grow,” Nahom says with determination. “If we get more support, we can do more—not just for ourselves, but for other young refugees who have talent and dreams.”

About the Youth-to-Youth fund (Y2YF)

The Youth-to-Youth Fund initiative is part of PROSPECTS Opportunity Fund on Advancing Young People’s Engagement and Meaningful Participation. The objective of the initiative is to empower and meaningfully engage young people in forced displacement contexts so that they develop their skills and confidence to lead socioeconomic and cultural activities, start an enterprise, address protection concerns, volunteer in their communities, advocate on issues that are important to them, and provide input to programming, including PROSPECTS.