Important dates in the development of
A Ray of Hope
UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace

Inception of A Ray of Hope following a telephone call from British Embassy, Paris.
27th June, 1995
Performance at UNESCO Headquarters and Grand Amphitheatre de la Sorbonne
(with Monserrat Caballe, Zulfu Livaneli and Jean- Michel Jarre) : (in the presence of 19 presidents led by M. Jacques Chirac President of France : Nobel Peace Prize Winners) : ( visits also to the British and Irish Embassies)
16th November, 1995
A Ray of Hope Reception in attendance
Mrs. Hilary Izon British Embassy Paris and Mayor of Lisburn et al.
23rd February, 1996
A Ray of Hope offered the appointment of UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace
30th March, 1996
Appointment of A Ray of Hope as UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace by
Dr. Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO with dignitaries including Lord Ancram, Education Minister )
19th October, 1996
Target set for supplies appeal for children overseas at $150,000
20th October, 1996
A Ray of Hope's Appointment mentioned at Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons London
18th November, 1996
Performance Council for Education in World Citizenship for
HRH Duke of Gloucester and His Excellency Dr. L.M. Singh
5th December, 1996
A Ray of Hope performs at Hillsborough Castle for
Prime Minister, Mr. John Major and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir Patrick Mayhew and others.
17th December, 1996
National Television all channels
with Brian Kennedy, Eamonn Holmes, O.T.T. and others
17th/18th/19th & 22nd December, 1996
Peace Concert
27th February, 1997
Supplies raised to the value of $750,000
1st August, 1997
Launch of Peace Anthology "A Ray of Hope"
Launched by Education Minister Mr. Tony Worthington
Patronage : Director General of UNESCO , Mme Susana Rinaldi Goodwill Ambassador, Lord Yehudi Menuhin Goodwill Ambassador, Lord Michael Ancram Education Minister.
25th September, 1997
UNICEF Concert
3rd November, 1997
Presentation Waterfront Hall
25th February, 1998
Performance Waterfront Hall for
President Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission
3rd March, 1998
Ray of Hope appointed members UNESCO Planet Society
16th March, 1998
Belarus First Visit
25th October, 1998
CD A Ray of Hope and Friends launched
Patronage : James Galway, Brian Kennedy, General Sir Sam Cowan et al
1st January, 1999
"Take my Hand" dedicated through A Ray of hope to the children of Belarus
1st February, 1999
"Cry for Peace" Choral work dedicated to A Ray of Hope UNESCO Youth Ambassador
13th February, 1999
Moroccan Mural entitled "Mother and Son"dedicated to A Ray of Hope
15th February, 1999
Launch of A Ray of Hope Web site
Best wishes from M. Kofi Annan Secretary-General United Nations, Dr. Federico Mayor Director General UNESCO
1st March, 1999
Belarus Second Visit
31st March, 1999
Web sites win awards from USA
27th April, 1999
Launch of Mozyr's Web site
22nd April, 1999
Children's Art Work "Earth's Roots" Web Site launched
Patronage : His Holiness Pope John Paul II, James Galway, Dr. Federico Mayor Director General of UNESCO, Mr. Rashid Kareh United Nations Association
Best Wishes from M. Kofi Annan Secretary- General of United Nations.
6th May, 1999
Just a very special day
7th June, 1999
Appointment of Naoufel Ghellam as North African Liaison Advisor
16th August, 1999
Venture Productions website begins development
17th August, 1999
Presentation to International visitors including new friends from India, Colombia, Bhutan and Norway
22nd September, 1999
Appointment of Luz Marina Lopera as South American Liaison Advisor
26th September, 1999
World Parliament of Children - Children from A Ray of Hope represent the United Kingdom in Paris.
20th October, 1999
Belarus Third Visit
24th October, 1999
Supplies raised to the value of $4 million
1st November, 1999
London Conference with representatives from Ghana, India, Ireland, Sweden and Colombia
26th November, 1999
A Ray of Hope's first child - Darya -is born to Svetlana Varankina - Senior Russian Interpreter, Mozyr Belarus 23.00hrs
28th December, 1999
"The Earth and the White Wings" - a compilation of poetry, prose, art and peace messages goes to print.
22nd February, 2000
Supplies raised total $4.5 million
1st March, 2000
Children's Art work received from 10 countries
1st March, 2000
"Earth and the White Wings" launched
Patronage: Sir Brian Mawhinney, Mr James Galway, Mr. Rashid Kareh
15th March, 2000
Members of A Ray of Hope represent Northern Ireland in a conference of reconciliation in Verdan, France.
April, 2000
Member of A Ray of Hope presents World Parliament of Children Manifesto to Canadian Government.
April, 2000
Director of A Ray of Hope becomes Godfather to a Darya - born in Belarus - 28th December, 1999
April, 2000
Representative of A Ray of Hope invited to Florida to speak on the inspiration of youth.
May,2000
School from A Ray of Hope nominated to represent United Kingdom in World Fresco Exhibition.
May, 2000
Representative of A Ray of Hope addresses World Political and Religious Leaders
September, 2000
Supplies raised now totaling $5 million
September, 2000
Invitation to attend with World Political and Religious Leaders in New York
October, 2000
Invitation to attend Culture of Peace Conference in Madrid
October, 2000
Appointment of Stephen Lawrence as West Indian Liaison Officer
October, 2000
Communication opened with Home for Children, Peru
February, 2001
Fifth visit to Belarus
April, 2001
Playground finished Equipment installed Ghana
March, 2001
Assistance with Music Festival, Mozyr
April, 2001
Communications opened with Baladna, Organisation for Arab Youth, Israel
May, 2001
Sixth visit to Belarus
August, 2001
Tag Teacher Net, 25,000 teachers affiliate to A Ray of Hope
February, 2002
Seventh Visit to Belarus
March, 2002
Ms. Heather Beattie appointed as Liaison to India
March, 2002
Coming together of 6 companies to assist schools in India
April, 2002
Maghaberry Prison International Projects affiliate to A Ray of Hope
July, 2002
Eighth visit to Belarus
July, 2002
Conor McConville an Irish artist affiliates
September, 2002
Project Kenya affiliates ( Janet and Catherine)
October, 2002
Ulster Teachers' Union affiliates
October, 2002
Environmental Workshops, Kenya
November, 2002
Amnesty International Global Choir
December, 2002
Supplies raised now $5.5 million
December, 2002
Westbourne Recording Studios affiliates
December, 2002
Swingtime Big Band/Jazz Band affiliates
January, 2003
World Trade Centre Memorial Proposals
Culture of Peace Project affiliates
January, 2003
Heather visits Vietnam and Cambodia
January, 2003
Affiliation to proposals for rebuild of Twin Towers
January, 2003
9th Trip to Belarus
April, 2003
Melanie visits Romania
April, 2003
Ulster Teachers' Union Conference
April, 2003
Affiliation of Metta Centre, Nepal
May, 2003
Affiliation of Pictorial Charts Educational Trust
May, 2003
Affiliation of the Online Science Laboratory
May, 2003
Expedition Tanzania and Kenya HMP Maghaberry
Culture of Peace Event
May, 2003
Affiliation Bandawe Scool, Malawi
June, 2003
Girls enrolled Metta Centre Nepal
June, 2003
Affiliation Dawn Mitchell Art and Design
July, 2003
10th visit to Belarus
July, 2003
Melanie visits Zambia
August, 2003
Supplies raised now $6 million
August, 2003
Karim and Karen tour Far East special reference to India and Laos
Heather visits Vietnam
Victoria visits Brazil
Vickie visits Uganda
Melanie visits Hungary
Visit to Belarus
January to April 2004
Visit to Belarus
August 2004
Vickie visits Uganda
November, 2004
UK National Commission to UNESCO re-established
November, 2004
Meeting with representatives of Somaliland community in London
March, 2005
Visit to Belarus
April, 2005
Visits to Romania, Hungary, Uganda, Belarus, Cambodia, Sierra Leone,  Malawi
Summer, 2005
$7.5 million to 895 schools and organisations in 55 countries
September, 2005
Melanie visits Serbia
October, 2005
A Ray of Hope" described as the "Pride of London".
A Ray of Hope performs in St. Paul's cathedral in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth on 60th Anniversary of United Nations
October, 2005
CAWD affiliates
November, 2005
Ethiopia "Ahead" affiliates
November, 2005
Performance for His Holiness The Dalai Lama
November, 2005
A Ray of Hope Jewellery Collection Launched
December, 2005
Creation Nepal affiliates
December, 2005
School completed Sierra Leone
May, 2006
A Ray of Hope/ASP Net  presentation to the Inaugural UK UNESCO Conference
June, 2006
Romania x3 Uganda x2 Sierra Leone x2 Hungary x1 Belarus x2  Philippines Jordan x2 Nigeria
Sept, 2005 - August 2006 Visits overseas
October 2006
Animal catalogue begins
November, 2006
Hayley represents UK in Euro Mediterranean Parliament
November 2006
Affiliation of NiPRO Nigeria
January 2007
1000 school assisted overseas.
January 2007
Visit to January, 2007
Visit to Sierra Leone
February, 2007
Visit to India
March, 2007
Positive Citizen Course Nigeria
April, 2007
Visit to Belarus
April, 2007
Art Competition Belarus
April, 2007
Visit to Nigeria
May, 2007
Classics Competition UK France and Germany
June, 2007
Visit of Yomi to Nigeria
June, 2007
Entrepreneur and Positive Citizenship Course Nigeria
July,2007
Presentation to UK/UNESCO National Commission Conference
August,2007
Affiliation of Narowlya - town in Gomel Region, Belarus
September, 2007
Affiliation of Foundation for Endangered Species.
October, 2007
Affiliation of Aadam and Eeve Nigeria.
October, 2007
Affiliation of Creative Minds Academy, Nigeria