5 Organizations Helping Young People Around The World
If we want to eradicate poverty and create a fair system in which anyone can achieve, we need to start helping people when they are young. These organizations aim to do that, offering support for young people in areas such as education, mental health, skills training, employment, and advocacy on issues that matter to youth. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
5 Organizations Focused on Youth
| Name | Mission |
|---|---|
| KELY Support Group | Offers programs to Hong Kong youth between the ages of 14 and 24 around three core focus areas: Drug and Alcohol Awareness, Mental Health & Wellbeing, and Positive Youth Development |
| Educate! | Partners with schools and governments to reform curriculum and teaching methods so students in Africa have the skills to attain further education, overcome gender inequities, start businesses, get jobs, and drive development in their communities |
| WSA European Young Innovators | Initiative formerly known as the European Youth Award that brings young creative minds and international experts together, as part of WSA Young Innovators |
| California Youth Connection | Youth-led organization that strives to develop leaders who will empower each other and their communities to transform the foster care system |
| LivelyHoods | Provides communities in Kenya with access to life-improving products through a sales network of trained youth and women |
California Youth Connection's 30th Anniversary
American Children Living in Poverty
Percentage of children ages 0–17 by family income relative to the poverty threshold, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
| Poverty Level | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below 50% of poverty threshold | 6.9% | 8.8% | 6.7% | 9.9% | 9.8% | 9.7% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 8.2% |
| 50% - 99% of poverty threshold | 11.4% | 11.8% | 9.5% | 12.1% | 12.0% | 12.1% | 11.9% | 10.8% | 9.8% |
Adoption Rates In United States
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
| Year | Children in Foster Care | Children Adopted |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 750,000 | 55,300 |
| 2009 | 700,000 | 57,200 |
| 2010 | 669,000 | 53,500 |
| 2011 | 643,000 | 50,900 |
| 2012 | 635,000 | 52,000 |
| 2013 | 638,000 | 50,800 |
| 2014 | 650,000 | 50,700 |
| 2015 | 669,000 | 53,600 |
| 2016 | 685,000 | 57,200 |
| 2017 | 691,000 | 59,400 |
The Impact of KELY Support Group
In Depth
Today's youth must face the world head-on while dealing with personal, economic and environmental issues. Luckily, there are recourses available to children, teens and young adults that can help. In no particular order, the following are some dedicated groups seeking to assist the development of youth across the globe.
Coming in at #1, KELY Support Group is a Hong Kong-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to support themselves and one another. The team at this organization envisions a world where young people are empowered to reach their full potential.
This organization collaborates with schools and other partners to offer programs to Chinese and English-speaking youth between the ages of 14 to 24 around three core focus areas: Drug and Alcohol Awareness, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Positive Youth Development. The programs aim to ensure that young people can protect themselves, make healthy choices, and support their peers.
This organization collaborates with schools and other partners to offer programs to Chinese and English-speaking youth between the ages of 14 to 24 around three core focus areas: Drug and Alcohol Awareness, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Positive Youth Development.
Next up at #2, Educate tackles youth unemployment by reforming educational institutions in Africa so that students have the skills to attain further education, overcome gender inequities, start businesses, get jobs, and drive development in their communities. Educate's vision is to design solutions that measurably impact millions of youth across Africa each year.
This organization's purpose is to prepare youth in Africa with the skills to succeed in today's economy, thereby developing young leaders and entrepreneurs. Educate's model is delivered through professionally-trained teachers and empowered youth mentors. The group's goal is to make this practical, skills-based model part of the national education system wherever they work.
Moving onto #3, European Young Innovators, part of WSA Young Innovators, is a movement of young people who seek to question and improve our world. This organization believes that innovations in digital technologies have the power to create a positive impact on society. The initiative focuses on highlighting and encouraging purpose-driven digital entrepreneurship.
The initiative focuses on highlighting and encouraging purpose-driven digital entrepreneurship.
Originally known as the European Youth Award, it became part of World Summit Awards in 2020, offering wider opportunities for young digital entrepreneurs globally. WSA is a global community and award series that recognizes digital solutions, social entrepreneurs, start-ups, government partners, corporations, and organizations that believe in the power of innovative technology.
At #4 on our list, California Youth Connection is an organization that develops foster youth ages 14-24 so that they grow into vibrant adults who empower their communities. The goal of this organization is to transform the foster care system by bringing about changes in legislation and policy. Advocating for child welfare reform ensures that all fostered young adults are equal partners in contributing to the decisions made in their lives.
Youth-led since its inception, the group empowers its members to build leadership skills and forge supportive relationships. Members receive one-on-one support and mentoring, specialized training, and frequent opportunities to speak to policymakers, child welfare practitioners, other foster youth, and the general public. Volunteer supporters are especially important to this organization, as they provide stability, structure, transportation and food for meetings.
Youth-led since its inception, the group empowers its members to build leadership skills and forge supportive relationships.
At #5 on our list, LivelyHoods is a not-for-profit social enterprise that creates jobs for Kenyan youth and women through the distribution of life-improving items such as clean-burning stoves, solar products, reading glasses, and household appliances. LivelyHoods aims to prepare their members to financially sustain themselves and their families while also inspiring hope for a bright future.
In impoverished Kenyan communities, up to 70% of youth are jobless, with women facing additional barriers in earning an income. By offering training and job opportunities, LivelyHoods provides unemployed youth and women with opportunities to work their way out of poverty. A majority of members go on to attain employment, further their studies, or create their own businesses after they leave LivelyHoods.
