The Global Search for Education: Dirt Court Dreams Sport, Hope, and Change

This month, audiences can screen Dirt Court Dreams on Planet Classroom’s YouTube Channel. This title is curated for Planet Classroom by Actuality Abroad.

Directed by Cassandra Heikkila and produced by Daniel Karnafel, Dirt Court Dreams is a heartfelt short documentary set on the edge of Kibera, Nairobi — one of Africa’s largest informal settlements. The film follows Flo, a local tennis coach at the Sadili Oval Sports Academy (from sadili, Swahili for “well-being”), a social enterprise that uses sport to empower youth from underserved backgrounds across East Africa.

Through intimate, on-court moments and everyday neighborhood life, cinematographer Michael Kuba captures resilience, discipline, and joy. Editor Dean Jacobson shapes these scenes into a brisk, uplifting portrait of mentorship in action. Flo’s story affirms how access to play — and the support of caring coaches — can change lives.

The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Cassandra Heikkila and Daniel Karnafel.

What first convinced you that Flo’s story at Sadili Oval Sports Academy could carry a short film, and how did you earn trust with him and families in and around Kibera?

We pre-interviewed several people, and Flo’s story struck us as the most compelling. By following her journey, we felt we could capture the best narrative of what was happening in Kibera and the surrounding area.

Flo is a mother and had a unique and compelling way about her. She is deeply involved in the struggles of the slum, which we wanted to highlight, but she also took steps to overcome those struggles. She was very well spoken.

We earned trust by doing a lot off-camera. Flo and our director had a private conversation about her story. We played tennis and yard games with local kids, visited people’s homes, and maintained a curious energy.

I was personally shocked by how much people opened up to us. Many were eager to tell their story. It gave me the impression that, for some, this was the first time they felt truly “seen.”

How did you approach filming on-court and in the neighborhood to capture coaching, repetition, and progress while staying unobtrusive?

As mentioned, gaining trust and spending time with people off-camera gave us more flexibility and put everyone at ease once the camera came out.

Working with youth requires care. What safeguards and community partnerships did you put in place, and what would you repeat or change next time?

It’s hard to recall every detail, but I remember that each time we entered Kibera, we were escorted by a local contact the company had worked with previously. We never felt unsafe.

As for giving back, it was more emotional than anything. Flo, our main character, cried during the screening of the film. She rarely showed emotion, even during difficult interviews, but she was deeply moved that someone found her story worth telling.

Since wrapping, what tangible outcomes have you seen for Flo, the kids, or Sadili’s programs? What is the one action you most want viewers to take after watching?

I want people to support and donate to the Sadili Sports Complex. The life lessons they teach youth through sports, along with the tangible education they provide, are the only resources some in the area have if they want to rise out of their situation.

C.M. Rubin with Cassandra Heikkila & Daniel Karnafel.

Dirt Court Dreams is now streaming on Planet Classroom’s YouTube Channel. This film is curated by Actuality Abroad.