Our Mission

The mission of YouthBuild International (YBI) is to unleash the intelligence and positive energy of young people to rebuild their communities and their lives. YouthBuild is grounded in the philosophy that given the right context—an environment filled with respect, a caring community, a positive peer group, a valued role in local communities, an opportunity to develop skills, high standards of self-discipline and performance, and the means to future education and employment—young adults with troubled pasts can transform themselves into productive citizens with viable futures.

YouthBuild International is building a global network of organizations dedicated to reaching, inspiring, training and connecting young people to employment opportunities in both the formal and informal economic sectors. In YouthBuild programs unemployed, young people work to advance their basic education while learning jobs skills, building valued community assets such as housing, community centers, schools, playgrounds, and essential environmental infrastructure. Emphasis is placed on leadership development, citizenship, and community service, coupled with applied skills training focused on job preparation and self employment through entrepreneurship. 

YouthBuild International, a Boston-based non-governmental organization (NGO) supports the adaptation and replication of the YouthBuild model around the world. In addition, YouthBuild International provides training, technical assistance and consultation to governments, bi-lateral and multilateral donors, public and private sector employment systems, schools, NGOs and youth groups in the areas of youth employment training, applied basic education, youth enterprise development, leadership and citizenship, construction and community revitalization. YouthBuild International’s success draws on field-tested strategies, effective partnerships, access to broad based public and private resources, and a development approach that is informed by the experience and perspective of young people.

YouthBuild, Incorporated, through its two operating divisions, YouthBuild International and YouthBuild USA brings 30 years of experience and expertise in policy development, advocacy, research, institutional capacity building, and on-the-ground practice. YouthBuild, Inc. is the originator of the YouthBuild name and program design.

Our Vision
YouthBuild International’s vision is to create viable, sustainable livelihoods for all young people, through training, education, employment and self employment. Working with and through a global network of partner institutions, YouthBuild International aims to:

1. Create a global ‘hand up’ system, that is visible, accessible and inspiring to marginalized youth, and provides an expanding, network of connections for young people to education, training, financial services, leadership development, and employment opportunities in the formal sector;
2. Create a global forum for the exchange of effective practices and for the creation of design and performance standards that are influenced by young people, program operators, public and private employers, and leadership from the financial sector;
3. Document and communicate stories of youth transformation and community impact by showcasing the voice, progress and community contributions being made by young people in YouthBuild programs around the world;
4. Inform the practice and policy conclusions of public and private global institutions who share our commitment to address the challenge of youth unemployment, by documenting the experience and outcomes of the YouthBuild International network.