MESSAGE OF OUR FOUNDER AND CEO

Dr. Israel I. Koppisch

     Tackling our communities’ toughest challenges is not something that needs to be undertaken alone—indeed, it must be done together with other partners and organizations – private and/or governmental. It will involve a concerted effort among diverse stakeholders in the youth development ecosystem: corporations, foundations, multilateral organizations and local leaders, communities and—most importantly—young people themselves.

     AMYF is unique in that we try to engage with all members of the ecosystem. Playing the role of connector and convener, we ensure that individual efforts are to be aligned, communication channels are to be opened, and solutions include and respond to the real needs of young people. Individually, each actor in the ecosystem contributes something specific and essential—but it’s when we work together, listening to and learning from each other, that we truly achieve transformation.

     Due to the depth of our experience and expertise working with children and youth, or the proven effectiveness of the interventions we deliver and our ability and willingness to listen, learn, and respond to real needs, we’ve been able to group a few professionals who   are totally committed to promoting the transformation of our youth.

     Whether it’s a multinational corporation, a community-based organization, or young people themselves, we are committed to meeting our partners where they are, strive to understand the nuances unique to each context or challenge, and then work collaboratively to find the right, most sustainable solutions. This is what it looks like to transform lives together.

     ANGELS OF MERCY YOUTH FOUNDATION has been founded on the premise that educated, employed, and engaged young people possess the power to solve the world’s toughest problems. For this reason, AMYF is promoting an unusual approach to raising funds and community awareness. Our goal is to be able to partner not only with philanthropies, but also corporations that are beginning to recognize that social impact matters to their business. At the same time, by choosing to work with locally led Christian organizations to deliver programs.

     Currently, humankind all over our country –and the world--are facing an uncertain future.  The situation is especially acute for young people struggling to find their way through a shifting political and cultural landscape. We know they yearn to contribute to society in meaningful ways, but too often they’re being prepared for the world that was, not the world that is—much less the world that will be.

     As you can see from the framework on the facing page, we’ve set an ambitious goal whereby young people will exercise greater agency, access more and better economic opportunities, and benefit from systems that are more youth inclusive and responsive. We built our three strategic objectives to drive towards this holistic goal, and they acknowledge the critical importance of finding ways to help young people overcome the significant barriers currently standing in their way.

     Our strategic objective is to be able to get on board as many strong and purposeful organizations that would be willing to work promoting and developing solutions to the challenges young people face, and we welcome them to our movement.

     At this moment, we’re excited to fuel our new strategy with a set of unique assets that we continue to refine to meet today’s challenges and opportunities. And finally, the seven grounding principles underpinning our strategic framework connect us to our heritage and will keep us clear-eyed and consistent in our approach. Central to these principles is partnership with other organizations. Whether we’re talking about foundations, corporations, multilateral organizations, government agencies, community-based organizations, fellow global nonprofits, or young people themselves, collaboration is going to be the key to success on scale.

     We can achieve the ultimate goals of NEW HORIZONS FOR YOUTH: Transformation 2030—greater commitment with our youth, more economic opportunities, and inclusive systems— only if every one of us stands by, for, and with the young people of our nation—and in our local states.