Explore & Discover

Youth & Family Programs in Havana, Cuba

Co-Directors: Mileidys Q. Swaby & Philip Ross

In this era of global disruption, investing in youth is our hope - and even more powerfully, theirs.

Program In Brief

Context
For decades, the Cuban people have lived under tremendous constraints, yet they have forged a living tradition of resilience, what they call "resolver," resolving limitation through invention, creativity, and community. This enduring resolve has produced world-class achievements in music, dance, cinema, community medicine, sports, science, and biomedical innovation, as well as a vast infrastructure of cultural institutions and groups.

In this era of global uncertainty and disruption, Cuba’s "resolver" way is a powerful example for the world of how limits can drive creativity and cooperation, just as challenge and renewal shape all living systems.

Our "Explore & Discover" Youth & Family Programs carry this tradition forward.

History
The program was founded by Philip Ross and Mileidys Q. Swaby, who balance their lives between the San Francisco Bay Area and Havana. After 15 years in media, travel, and retail in Cuba, they shifted to community service, creating youth and family workshops in Havana that provide enrichment, support, and new possibilities.

Need
In Havana, economic hardship is a daily reality shaped by both local conditions and external restrictions that limit trade and opportunity. Public schools face resource shortages, and quality enrichment programs are often out of reach for most families. Our programs help bridge this gap by providing accessible, high-quality educational and cultural opportunities that strengthen family life, spark creativity, and support long-term well-being.

Mission
Our mission is to provide culturally grounded, creative learning and vocational pathways for children, along with guided support for parents that strengthens family connection. Drawing from the talent in our community of professional experts, we build confidence, practical skills, and a shared culture of learning.

Program Structure
At our two venues, we run 8 to 12 themed weekend workshops per month for youth ages 5 to 12 and their parents, plus a series of weekday special-interest courses. Led by local experts in rhythm, filmmaking, cooking, science, gardening, English, and more, each weekend workshop pairs hands-on youth sessions with a guided parent discussion, followed by a shared wrap-up.

Financial Overview
Parent contributions cover about one-third of our costs, keeping programs within reach for local families. To ensure our presenters, administrators, venues, and materials are fully sustained, we are building a growing support community beyond Cuba.

Join Us
Be part of this effort. Your gift to our Winter 2025 fundraising drive sustains our workshops, mentors, and families in Havana, helping children learn, create, and thrive.

CLICK HERE to donate with Paypal.com. Boogalu Productions is our company name.

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT
Explore & Discover Programs

A project of Boogalu Productions
Owner-Director: Philip Ross

Donation processing by Paypal.com ,

See Our Workshops In Action

Filmmaking - Music - Beauty - Fashion - Gardening - Finance

Full Program Overview

Click arrows on the side of this box or your advance computer key to view the 6 overview sections.

Vision

Program Ethos

The Explore & Discover Program was created in response to the growing challenges faced by families in Cuba today, challenges shaped not only by internal strain but also by external limitations that restrict economic opportunity and access to global exchange. In the absence of a strong tourism economy and with limited access to outside resources, families are doing more with less, drawing on Cuba’s long “resolver” tradition—meeting limitation with creativity, community, and cultural strength—to sustain everyday life.

Our workshops offer structured, culturally rooted experiences that bring joy, learning, and connection to youth and their parents. We focus on rhythm, expression, and practical knowledge, not as luxuries, but as essential tools for well-being and self-confidence.

Value Proposition:
Explore & Discover is not charity, not foreign-led, not political or religious, and not just entertainment or childcare.

Explore & Discover Programs Are:
• Culturally grounded, drawing from Afro-diasporic traditions and Cuban everyday wisdom

• Creative and embodied, using rhythm, movement, language, cooking, and storytelling

• Practical and vocational, offering youth and parents skills they can use in daily life

• Family-centered, with every program designed to include both children and adults

• Led by Cubans, responsive to local needs, and hosted within our own community

Need

In our community in Havana, Cuba, economic hardship is a daily reality, shaped not only by local conditions but also by external restrictions that limit trade, travel, and economic exchange. While basic state services like healthcare and food rations are still in place, the broader system is under pressure, and public schools often operate with minimal resources. Quality enrichment programs, when available, are typically private and priced beyond the reach of most families.

With state salaries averaging the equivalent of $20–40 USD per month—and even the best private sector jobs rarely exceeding $300–500 USD—many households rely on help from relatives abroad or navigate daily life with limited means.

Our programs help bridge this gap by providing accessible, high-quality educational and cultural opportunities that strengthen family life, spark creativity, and offer tools for practical learning and long-term well-being.

Programs Structure

Program Structure

Target Audience:
Youth ages 5–12 and their parents

Frequency:
We offer 8–12 programs per month, hosted in our home and other neighborhood venues. Some are one-time workshops; others are structured as multi-session series.

Format:
Each workshop day includes parallel two-hour sessions:

Youth Session: Led by a featured expert presenter (musician, filmmaker, cook, educator, etc.)

Parent Session: Facilitated by co-director and psychologist Mileidys Q. Swaby, offering family support and discussion grounded in the workshop topic.

At the end of each session, youth gather with their parents to share, perform, or reflect on what they’ve learned.

Participation:
Each session accommodates 8–12 youth and their parents.

Core Goals:
Nurture creativity and confidence in youth
Open new worlds of expression and learning
Provide meaningful support for parents
Engage and uplift the talent within our local community

Financial Overview

The Explore & Discover Program operates as a community-based initiative, sustained by modest parent contributions and with external support now in development.

At present, the program operates at a deficit, with a portion of presenter, administrator, and venue fees generously donated to keep activities running. Our goal is to bridge this gap through new partnerships and external funding that ensure fair compensation and long-term stability.

Income Sources
Current Parent Contributions – 35%
Parents are asked to contribute the equivalent of $4-5 USD per workshop, keeping the program both accessible and community-valued.

Future Donations & Sponsorships – 65%
While still developing, this is a vital area of growth. We are actively seeking partnerships and support to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program.

Expense Breakdown
Presenter fees & administration salaries – 60%
Venue expenses & basic maintenance – 15%
Program promotion & outreach – 15%
Materials & supplies – 10%

Impact Outcomes Goals

To Date:
• Over 120 workshops conducted.
• More than 150 families served.
• 80% of participants return for multiple sessions.
• Parents report increased confidence in supporting their children’s learning and vocational interests.

Qualitative Impact:
• Youth gain exposure to professional fields and trades through hands-on experiences with expert-presenters.

• Development of transferable skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication.

• Parents strengthen support networks and gain tools to guide their children’s academic and vocational development.

Expansion Goals
Over the next three years, Explore & Discover aims to:

1. Double program capacity to reach over 300 families annually.

2. Expand vocational offerings to include technical trades, entrepreneurship, and creative economy workshops.

3. Establish satellite locations in two additional Havana neighborhoods.

4. Secure the right balance of parent and external support to maintain the sustainability of the program.

Directors Bios

Philip Ross is a musician, cultural producer, travel director, and media professional with more than forty years of experience in arts, culture, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Originally from California, he has lived and worked extensively in Cuba and Brazil creating multimedia projects, and as a travel director, he has designed and led customized cultural immersion programs in Cuba, connecting international visitors with the country’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.

In Explore & Discover Youth & Family Programs, he leads music, rhythm, and English language workshops, drawing on decades of artistic, professional, and intercultural experience to inspire creativity, confidence, and future aspirations in young learners.

Mileidys Q. Swaby is a Cuban entrepreneur, psychologist, and owner of Bazar de Tito, a Havana-based clothing brand. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Psychology from the University of Havana and has developed educational programming for Cuban National Television.

In Explore & Discover Youth & Family Programs, she curates the workshop schedule, coordinates expert-presenters across disciplines, develops curriculum, and leads the parent program, combining her expertise in psychology, community engagement, and organizational leadership.

Philip and Mileidys are a married couple raising their 10-year-old son in Havana. Their home serves as the program’s center of operations for weekend sessions, while their second owned space hosts weekday workshops in Musical Appreciation, Visual Arts, and Children’s Yoga, expanding the program’s reach and flexibility.