YEP LAUNCHES FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO MARK 20 YEARS OF YOUTH IMPACT

Dec 17, 2025 0 Comments

The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) today announced the launch of “YEP’s Next 20 – Give a Gift to the Future,” a fundraising campaign marking the organisation’s 20th anniversary and inviting the community to support its next phase of growth.

Since opening its doors in 2005, following its founding by Dr Henry Jarecki, Dr Kedrick Pickering, and other community-minded individuals, YEP has provided a safe, nurturing and enriching environment for more than 5,000 young people and families in the East End/Long Look community and beyond. Through academic support, sports, arts, STEM programming, field trips, mentorship, and leadership development,

YEP continues to serve more than 65 children daily, with hundreds more participating throughout the year.

“As we celebrate 20 years of impact, we are looking ahead to the next 20,” said Hon Stacy Mather, Executive Director of YEP. “We are pleased that parents and young people see the value of our programmes. They are full, demand continues to grow, and we remain committed to ensuring every young person has a positive space to learn, grow and thrive.”

The campaign coincides with the release of YEP’s 20-Year Anniversary video, which highlights the voices and stories of YEP alumni, staﬀ, families, and supporters. Founder Dr Henry Jarecki said the video is a small snippet of what the organisation has been able to achieve over two decades.

“What viewers will get a chance to see is a smalllook at the ways YEP has impacted the Virgin Islands, developing young people through connections and activities that are not only valuable and enriching to them, but also fun.”

“The impact of YEP on our young people, our staﬀ, our families, and our supporters is a demonstration of the importance of community,” noted Mather. “That’s why we need to ensure YEP continues to empower the youth of this Territory and we are encouraging our community to financially support just that.” The video can be viewed at www.yepbvi.com/donate.

Funds raised will support daily programming, expansion initiatives, staﬀ development, and community outreach, as well as YEP’s long-term vision to reach more children across the Virgin Islands with the opening of its Virgin Gorda Branch in 2026.

Community members near and far are encouraged to join the celebration by making a gift at www.yepbvi.com/donate and support the release of YEP’s 20-Year Anniversary video.