Digital Citizens Mentorship

Overview

Over the past months, YouMe We has significantly expanded its reach and impact, supporting more than 500 children across Japan, the Philippines, and Brazil. Through various initiatives, we have connected organizations and volunteers with institutional homes to provide essential lessons, mentoring, and career development support for underprivileged youth.

Key Achievements

1. Educational and Mentorship Programs

• Successfully facilitated partnerships between organizations and volunteers to deliver lessons and mentorship sessions to children in institutional homes.

• Covered diverse topics, including digital literacy, career development, and life skills training.

• Started implementing mentoring classes focused on "territory mapping," equipping children with skills to identify what they value most in their lives and set personal goals to guide them toward their aspirations.

2. Programming Lessons and Game Development

• Five girls aged 8 to 13 participated in our programming class, learning how to program and develop apps.

• We use Click Team Fusion, a professional-quality software, to teach app development.

• During lessons, students brainstorm ideas for their own projects and work with instructors to bring them to life.

• This last month, the kids in our computer programming classes in the Philippines have made massive progress in their programming skills. They’ve gone from developing small one-off projects each lesson to creating larger, multi-session projects over time. They recently created their own version of the popular “Suika Game.” Our Night Zoo Keeper lessons have been expanding with new volunteers helping to teach and broaden our curriculum. All indications are that we have an exciting new year ahead in the Philippines.

3. Scholarships and Career Support for Aged-Out Youth

• Provided scholarships and mentoring to six youth who have aged out of institutional care, assisting them in pursuing higher education or vocational training.

• Offered career guidance and job search assistance to help beneficiaries transition into the workforce successfully.

 4. Sharing and Caring Project

• In December 2024, we carried out the Sharing and Caring Project, connecting organizations with children from different institutional homes to provide personalized gifts and bring joy during the holiday season.

Impact Metrics

• 500+ children directly supported across three countries.

• 5 girls learned app development through our programming class in the Philippines.

• 6 scholarships awarded to aged-out youth pursuing higher education or job placement.

Our Journey and Vision

A letter from Michael Clemons, Founder and Director of YouMeWe NPO. 

This project was the inception of YouMe We as an NPO. We have since been striving to raise $5,000 from unique donors. In 2018, just minutes before the deadline, a final $1,800 donation came in, pushing us over the line and allowing us to begin our journey.

As we move into 2025, we have raised almost $500,000 and distributed these funds through teaching, computers, camps, and scholarships.

The world is in a challenging situation, making it more critical yet daunting to continue supporting our population of children. But we remain steadfast, showing up week after week for well over a decade now. Our progress is measured in decades, reinforcing our resolve.

As we conclude the fiscal year 2024/2025, our goal is to secure as many monthly donations as possible—even as small as $10 per month—to cover the operating costs of the organization in a more sustainable way.

We hope you will consider supporting us this month as we walk into the future alongside the children we serve, who are also facing their own uncertain futures.

Having access to the right equipment and skill sets to compete in 21st-century jobs is an ever-growing challenge, but our children continue to meet and exceed these expectations.

Please consider funding our project now and into the future, knowing that our work is never done.

Future Goals

• Expand programming lessons to more homes and regions.

• Strengthen partnerships with organizations to enhance mentorship and career support.

• Increase the number of scholarships available to aged-out youth.

• Focus on mentoring high school students and aged-out youth through coaching, career assessment, and scholarships to ensure their successful transition into higher education and the workforce.

Conclusion

Through our collaborative efforts, YouMe We has made a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of children and young adults. We remain committed to empowering underprivileged youth through education, mentorship, and career development opportunities, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to build a successful future.