Success Stories
The Royal Ritchie Drummers
Victor (12), Esther (10), Danna (11), Eddy (10), Hagillih (11), Daudi (9), Eben (9), Mika (14), Herbie (12), Autumn (11), Nauru (8)
This initiative started with the Britannia Woods Community House’s Youth Advisory Committee writing a United Way Youth Action grant in 2005 for Multicultural drumming lessons in the community. With the $1,000 Youth Action grant, the Community House hired an instructor from Baobab Tree to provide African drumming lessons to the children and youth. The African drums were borrowed from the City of Ottawa’s Arts and Heritage Department. Over a six-week period, the children and youth would cram into the Community House and learn the art of African drumming.
In April 2006, the Royal Ritchie Drummers held a concert showcasing what they had learned. This has been followed by performances at Britannia Woods community events, United Way Ottawa, the Honourable David Kilgour’s Retirement Celebration at City Hall, COMPAC’s Networking Social, the Ottawa Police Services Unveiling of the Black History Month Banner Ceremony and Recruitment Campaign Launch, National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA’s Strong Kids Campaign Kick-off and AGM, Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards, YOUCAN Resolve-it Conference, National Alliance for Children and Youth: Kids Speak Conference, Jim Watson’s Community BBQ, Community Soccer Cup, Mental Health Conference, Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board’s Day of Awareness, and the list goes on…
Despite the challenges of having no access to transportation and no on-going program funding, the on-going success of the Royal Ritchie Drummers lies in the commitment from the children and youth involved, the Community House staff and the parents. The drummers have become a cooperative group working together to learn new material, practice and book performances.
The Royal Ritchie Drummers has impacted the lives of the children and youth as it has given them the opportunity to showcase their talents and share their love of drumming to audiences all over Ottawa.
Through invaluable support of the Ottawa Police Service, YFocus and the Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board, the Royal Ritchie Drummers have taken $1,000 and provided once in a lifetime experiences and life long leadership skills for the children and youth involved.
What’s next for the Royal Ritchie Drummers?
The children and youth are looking into creating their own promotional T-shirts and CDs. They have performances booked well into the New Year.
Do you have an idea about how you can make a difference? Apply for a Youth Action Grant.
