Youth Mentoring Agents for Development Organization(YOMADO)

The Youth Mentoring Agents for Development Organisation (YOMADO) is a non- government, non-profit organization that works at the grass roots level. It is a volunteer membership organization for young people. It was established in Rwanda in 2014, following the participation of (Young) founding members in a World Vision Rwanda Leadership and Governance program as beneficiaries. YOMADO was legally recognized by the Rwandan Government in December 10th, 2015; Rwanda Governance Board Legal Personality Number 41/RGB/NGO/2015.

YOMADO’s headquarters are located in Bugesera District in Eastern Province and it operates in one district with possibility of extension as the organisation grows.

Our Vision: 

It is our goal that all young people acquire the skills, self-confidence, and opportunity to participate fully, freely, and responsibly in the life of the community for a sustainable development.

Our Mission: 

YOMADO is a youth development Organisation in Rwanda that provides services and leadership to meet the emerging needs of young people and their families in our community.

YOMADO is a youth development Organisation . . .

YOMADO does not seek to “fix broken kids,” rather, it is our goal that all young people have what all young people need. Our central programmatic philosophy is “Positive Youth Development” – a holistic approach based on the belief that all young people need a wide range of “assets” in their lives if they are to have positive, fulfilling lives. One well-respected categorization of these assets is: relationships and support, empowerment and safety, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and a positive identity.

. . . that provides services . . .

YOMADO provides an array of academic, social, and emotional development services that respond to the unmet needs of the young people we serve. Those services include academic assistance, life skills education, social skill development, recreational and athletic activities, cultural and artistic activities, parental support, crisis intervention, mentoring, case management , and individual, group, and family counseling.

. . . and leadership . . .

YOMADO is concerned about all young people, not only about those who participate in our services. One of our founding documents in 2009 asked of our community, “Can We Serve Them All?” Only through a broad, coordinated, and cooperative network of active concern can communities provide an affirmative answer. We aspire to provide leadership for partnerships, support, and advocacy for all who care about young people.

. . . To meet the emerging needs . . .

YOMADO embraces change as a constant in youth services. Over the years, we have focused at various times on fighting against HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and in unity & reconciliation, advocacy of biogas plant in 3 schools, youth conferences and workshops, and others. From time to time we have provided services for various young people in Bugesera District. We have worked District-wide and in particular neighborhoods. In talking about our commitment to meet emerging needs, We aspire to live up to the characterization of YOMADO as Rwanda’s most nimble Organisation.

. . . of young people and their families . . .

YOMADO is defined by who we serve – young people — not only by the services we provide. Our core concern is each whole young person and their support system. We believe that young people are best served when they have healthy families at the center of their lives. As such, we also seek to support whole families.

. . . in our community.

YOMADO is community-based. Helping young people build positive relationships lies at the heart of all we do, and relationships with a rich array of family, peers, adults, and institutions form the fabric of the larger, diverse communities to which we are responsible..

Our Values

• We believe in possibilities for all at-risk youth and in their abilities to choose their own paths in pursuit of their best selves.
• We believe in honesty and integrity in all we say and do. 
• We believe in compassion and gratitude for those we serve and each other. 
• We believe in accountability to at-risk youth, society, our community, our partners and each other. 
• We believe in and respect the uniqueness, privacy and dignity of each and every individual – their age, sex, race, color, creed, citizenship status, national origin, religion, gender identity, physical, adultstal and/or medical condition. 
• We believe in responsible stewardship of the resources to which we have been entrusted. 
• We believe in the continuous pursuit of organizational excellence and best practices. 
• We believe in teamwork and collaboration to achieve our vision, mission and to support the youth we serve and uphold our values.

Our Goals

1. To be a partner with at-risk youth and empower them to create their own individual, dynamic life plans, and supports them in formulating and achieving their goals. 
2. To be an ongoing resource for at-risk youth (primarily ages 14 to 24, which includes those who have aged out of foster care and those who are homeless); to inspire positive change, leadership and character development; and to enable them to visualize their futures clearly and identify and practice the behaviors needed to achieve their desired results and dreams. 
3. To be a resource for at-risk youth to gain confidence, self-advocacy skills and attain peer-to-peer mentoring based on YOMADO and World Vision Rwanda training tools. 
4. To be a resource to empower at-risk youth who complete the program by presenting them with startup kits including computers/laptops/or Smartphones and other tools to facilitate community connections; to bridge the digital divide created by poverty; and to enable them to achieve their educational, employment and life goals. 
5. To be a symbol of hope for at-risk youth through coaching, mentoring and raising community awareness using the YOMADO Startup kits in the powerful way the YOMADO Logo represents hope for those at-risk youth and their loved ones. 
6. To be a bridge connecting the business community with the limitless potential of at-risk youth when given opportunity. 
7. To be an influence on community involvement so that homeless, at-risk and foster youth are recognized and treated as valuable individuals to be encouraged and supported as they mature into self-sufficient adults. 
8. To be recognized as an expert coaching, training and ongoing mentoring resource for at-risk youth, homeless youth and those in foster care and aging out and to be the organisation of choice for the provision of these services.