In a statement shared on social media on Monday evening, November 9, Silver questioned the commitment of organisations to corporate social responsibility, arguing that more needs to be done to support initiatives that use creative talent to improve young people's lives.

“Is CSR actually not a thing? Or is it only marketing that these organisations want?” she asked, calling on businesses and other stakeholders to work together to support the country's young people.

Silver, who runs the Sherrie Silver Foundation in Kigali, said she was particularly disappointed after learning that a potential donor who had sought to support the foundation through local contacts was instead advised to contribute to another organisation on the grounds that she was wealthy and did not need assistance.

“I was shocked to learn that someone wanted to donate to Sherrie Silver Foundation and tried to reach me through different local contacts, only to be recommended to donate to a similar group because ‘Silver doesn’t need help, she’s rich’,” she wrote.

She said the assumption that her international success meant her foundation had sufficient resources overlooked the scale of its work and the needs of the children it supports.

Silver explained that the foundation's activities extend beyond the public performances and dance programmes that audiences often see, including paying school fees, providing meals, offering free dance classes and supporting children who need healthcare.

She noted that financial constraints had affected the number of children whose school fees the foundation could cover this year, highlighting the challenges of sustaining such initiatives without consistent support.

“All you see is happy faces singing and dancing, 'cause we don't post children in hospitals, us paying school fees and kids dropping out of school 'cause I couldn't afford to pay for as many this year,” she wrote.

The choreographer said she had remained committed to creating opportunities for young people to use their talents to build better futures, but stressed that such efforts could not depend on one individual.

“I love my country and I am living proof of concept. But everyone has a limit,” she said.

She also urged people to support emerging initiatives rather than undermine those working to create opportunities for others, noting that not everyone would have the patience to continue despite criticism and limited backing.

Silver rose to international prominence after choreographing Childish Gambino's 2018 music video 'This Is America', which earned her an MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography. She became the first African choreographer to win the award.

Through the Sherrie Silver Foundation, she works to support vulnerable children and young people through arts education, dance training, shelter, healthcare and access to opportunities in the creative industry.

Beyond her foundation's work, Silver has choreographed and directed performances for international artists including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, as well as global brands such as Nike and Apple. She also serves as a United Nations Advocate for Rural Youth through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and has collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) on youth development and public health initiatives.