About Dance with Mweyne
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Inspired by a volunteer trip to an orphanage in Kenya for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities, Betina Gozo created The Dance with Mweyne Foundation. She built the non-profit organization to provide for and bring sustainability to this often underserved demographic. With 30+ residents living at the home and only 3-5 staff members, she quickly realized the impact that more volunteers could make. The residents at the orphanage benefited from the volunteers in a variety of ways: from learning how to feed themselves for the first time, with specialized volunteers discovering needs for specific diagnoses, or simply having someone’s hand to squeeze while watching TV. Drawing from her own visit, Betina realized the experience can also be life-changing for the volunteers. We also focus on projects to bring sustainability and efficiency to the homes and schools we work with. Ultimately, we seek to spread our good fortune and opportunity to those around the world who can use an extra hand.
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Our Inspiration: Meet Mweyne
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Mweyne is our beautiful friend from the Ongata Rongai Special Home for Children and Adults in Kenya. Her age and disease are unknown, but she is happy as can be. Though she does not have the ability to walk, she is a HUGE fan of dancing! Give her a little help, and she will dance and smile the night away.
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About the Founder: Betina Gozo In her late teens and early twenties, Betina spent a lot of time with her two friends, Stevie and Annie Hopkins, both diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, as a live- in caregiver. Both being in wheelchairs their whole lives, Betina assisted them with everyday activities, such as bathing, going to the toilet, and feeding, among a variety of other things. She also volunteered at nursing homes throughout her childhood, so giving time and care has always been part of her journey and has broadened her perspective as well as her capacity for compassion. Betina’s dream is to raise awareness amongst her fitness community and connect them with rewarding volunteer experiences.
Betina currently serves on the Advisory Board for Women's Health Magazine and published the Woman’s Guide to Strength Training with Hearst Publications / Women’s Health Magazine. She has worked as Nike Master Trainer for over 6 years and is also a NordicTrack Virtual Coach! Betina hopes that with her platform reach and her fitness community, she can inspire more people to participate in positive change.
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