Youth For Development Network
Think Human Fund
Mission & History
Established in 2011, YFDN is a registered non-profit organization serving youth aged 10–30 from disadvantaged urban and rural communities affected by poverty, crime, and violence. The organization also supports young people in juvenile correctional facilities, providing opportunities for personal growth and empowerment through sports and the arts. Since its founding, YFDN has reached over 8,750 young people, achieving an 80% graduation rate, with 65% of graduates securing internships or employment, returning to education, or launching their own businesses within one year of completing the program.
Youth for Development Network (YFDN) empowers marginalized young people in Jamaica through Sport-for-Development (S4D) and multi-arts programs, helping them prepare for employment, entrepreneurship, and adulthood. YFDN is committed to creating safe and inclusive environments where creativity, compassion, mindfulness, cultural competence, and self-awareness enable youth to achieve a better quality of life, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Country Information
Jamaica is a Caribbean island nation of approximately 2.8 million people, with a vibrant cultural heritage and a globally recognized sporting tradition. Young people account for a significant share of the population and remain central to the country’s national development priorities.
While Jamaica has made progress in advancing human development and reducing poverty, the country continues to invest in strengthening inclusive opportunities for youth, particularly through education, community development, and sport.
Recent climate-related events, including Hurricane Melissa (2025), have reinforced the importance of building resilient communities and sustainable systems that support young people.
The Need
Jamaica’s youth face intersecting challenges that place them at heightened risk of violence, poverty, and long-term social exclusion. High levels of youth crime, school dropout rates, and unemployment leave many young people with limited opportunities to build stable and productive futures. Nearly 28% of youth aged 15–24 are not in education, employment, or training, while exposure to violence and trauma remains widespread, particularly among vulnerable communities.
The impact of Hurricane Melissa (2025) further compounded these challenges by increasing poverty, displacement, and psychosocial distress. As a result, many young people struggle with disrupted education, limited economic opportunities, and reduced access to supportive services.
The 40 youth aged 16–24 targeted by this project are among those most affected by these overlapping barriers. Without targeted intervention that combines psychosocial support, life skills development, and pathways to education and employment, they risk becoming trapped in cycles of violence, disengagement, and poverty.
The Project We Fund
The YOU(th) Champions Initiative supports 40 vulnerable young people aged 16–24 across Jamaica who are affected by violence, school disengagement, unemployment, trauma, and the impacts of Hurricane Melissa. Through a combination of Sport-for-Development (S4D), creative arts, psychosocial support, leadership development, and employability training, the project helps youth build resilience, improve their mental and physical well-being, develop life and leadership skills, and access pathways to education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The program also promotes gender equality, violence prevention, environmental awareness, and community engagement, reaching up to 300 community members through dialogues, advocacy campaigns, and family involvement.
Volunteer game-changers can support the initiative by mentoring participants, sharing professional and life experiences, facilitating skills-based workshops, supporting community events and digital campaigns, and participating in environmental activities. Through their time, expertise, and encouragement, volunteer game-changers can help empower Jamaica’s next generation of youth leaders and create lasting positive change in their communities.
The Result
The YOU(th) Champions Initiative will empower 40 vulnerable young people aged 16–24 in Jamaica through sports, creative arts, psychosocial support, leadership development, and employability training. The program aims to improve mental and physical well-being, strengthen leadership and life skills, increase awareness of gender equality and violence prevention, and support participants in pursuing education, employment, or entrepreneurship. Through youth-led campaigns and community engagement activities, the project will also create wider social impact, reaching up to 300 community members and promoting safer, more inclusive communities.
