Organization for Youth Empowerment

OYE is a youth-led organization that develops the leadership and capacity of at-risk Honduran youth. OYE’s integrated development approach combines academic scholarships, youth capacity building, and community engagement to inspire and equip young people with the awareness and skills they need to take control of their own lives. The final goal is the empowerment of socially conscious youth who will emerge as leaders and agents of positive change in the Honduran community.

OYE envisions a society where all young people, regardless of race, religion, gender, class, sexuality, or abilities, are acknowledged for having the capacity to realize their rights and transform their realities. In such a society young people have a powerful voice and know how to effectively use it to create change in their lives and communities.

Program Objectives:

Academic Program: Ensure access to formal education for at-risk youth and encourage academic achievement through supplemental programs.

Capacity Building and Leadership Program: Build upon and strengthen the inherent leadership capacities of young people to foster social change in their communities.

Community Engagement Program: Provide opportunities for youth to practice their leadership and communication skills in a way that engages their community in positive dialogue. Projects include a youth radio program, youth magazine, sports tournament, and art project.

OYE believes that knowledge is power and youth who have access to information and knowledge are better able to challenge and change the structures that restrict their opportunities and potential. By combining access to formal academic education with informal, integrated development programs that provide opportunities for skill development and practice, OYE ensures youth have both the knowledge and the power to take control of their own lives.