Youth 4 Orphans Inc

Y4O has three specific goals we serve to accomplish through this mission. First, to spread the Gospel. We believe that by bringing the good news of salvation, we will help families and communities restore hope for a positive future both locally and abroad. Second, to provide youth and young adults with training, mentoring and interning opportunities to become tomorrow's Christian leaders. Our programs offer a perspective change from a me-centered secular view to a Christ-centered global view. We want to equip young people with a sense of purpose and responsibility to provide support and service to those less fortunate. Finally, while we support orphanages with supplies and financial aid, our ultimate goal is to partner with the local church in foreign countries to develop sustainable programs that break the cycles that lead vulnerable children to become orphans.

Youth and young adults are typically connected to Y4O through a mission trip experience to a partner community in one of the countries we serve. During the trips the participants are providing camps, training, and worship experiences to the children and communities abroad to strengthen their faith and leadership skills. Upon returning home, they are offered opportunities to stay connected and increase knowledge and skills through online training and mentoring, leadership service, and intern positions.  The participants, although younger, can financially partner with Y4O to support their new friends in foreign countries. The organization has developed a 3 step approach to partnering with foreign communities with the ultimate goal of  sustainability that is run by locals and can be mirrored in neighboring villages. The organizations near-term activities include expanding program development and participant engagement in mentoring, training and interning programs and increased community development programs, such as afterschool programs and clean water/agriculture initiatives.  We will need to increase fundraising activities and awareness in order to achieve these goals.

Currently, the organization has a passionate board of 8 people, two of which run the day to day activities on a full time basis.  The board has had some connection with the organization through trip participation, mentor activities, program development and financial support.  There are currently 3 full-time staff members and 1 intern who support the activities of the organization. The organization grew out of a program offered at a large local church and continues to engage their participants and receive support. There are two other churches that provide support for international programs. We are also expanding church, corporate, individual and organization partnerships in the U.S. Fundraising iniatives have also increased and the organization is seeking grant opportunities.

Interest and participation in mission trips has been consistent over the past years with an average of 60 participants traveling to serve in foreign countries. However, since COVID-19 and civil unrest in Haiti, our trips have paused. CORE Leadership has successfully graduated two years of participants in the online mentoring program and has two international participants enrolled in the Bahamas and Pakistan. College students are taking the skills and faith they are learning and using them to be leaders in their Greek organizations, clubs and friendships at college. We have successfully hired and trained interns both locally and remotely in 3 different states. The internships have included a biblical studies majors to help write content, marketing majors to serve in communications and social media, worship interns, children and youth studies interns. A financial literacy program has successfully partnered with local NGO's to provide afterschool programs to at risk high school students in Naples, FL . Community development initiatives such as a water well, fishing boat business and student service program have begun and funding is coming in through individuals and a church. Y4O provides over 35,000 meals to children in Haiti and the Bahamas, annually. As a fairly new organization our greatest challenge is awareness and funding. Making vital connections with faith based organizations to encourage mission trip & CORE participation and funding are a top priority.