About Ifetayo

Since its founding in 1989, Ifetayo has sought continually to enhance the lives of young people by providing programs in the performing and visual arts, as well as academic instruction, health and wellness, and personal and professional skills development. The organization’s name comes from the West African Yoruba word, “Ifetayo”, meaning “love brings happiness.” This phrase is more than just our name. It symbolizes the core of Ifetayo’s nurturing approach to supporting youth and building community. In the African tradition, art and culture are intrinsically integrated into all aspects of society. Ifetayo uses this same approach to prepare young people for all aspects of their lives, including their own self sufficiency and development, their relationship to their family, and their role in their community.

Sankofa International Cultural Studies/Exchange:

Our Marcus Garvey Cultural Heritage Program (MGCHP) offers students and their families the invaluable opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the cultures they have studied and establish relationships with an international community of peers and adults. Each year students and parents learn first-hand about their heritage by making a two-week trip to a country where African descendents have made their home. Prior to this summer trip, participants prepare by studying the languages and cultures of the countries where they plan to visit. This program has enabled families that otherwise would have been unable to visit countries such as: Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, Jamaica, Senegal and Ghana!