Ray of Hope Youth Development Center

Started in 1997, Xaala Mainama African Arts Ensemble, has evolved into a national treasure. Performing African Drumming, Dance, & Song all over the country and in Puerta Viejo, Costa Rica. Ray of Hope Youth Development Center was later created as the Center that houses all of the auxiliaries and classes. the advanced graduates of the classes audition for the performing ensemble.

African Drum, Dance, Song & History instruction, Anger Management, Conflict Resolution, Life-skills, Sewing, Crafting, Stilt dancing instruction.

The center focuses on the enrichment of all young people. We currently send our qualified instructors out to many schools to teach youth African drumming, dance, history, language, culture, stilt-walking, & song. Simultaneously, our instructors infuse life-lessons in their courses. Some of the more cognitive courses are conflict-resolution, public speaking, anger management, life-skills, and positivity in the community. Some elective courses include sewing, crafting, jewelry making & costume-making. Most of our programs culminate in a course ending ceremony (recital) where the participants are invited to showcase their talents and the children actually MC, and narrate the event (partially in a West African dialect).