Inspiring and empowering ‘at risk’ youth to turn their lives around
“A Candle Loses None of Its Light by Lighting Another Candle”
Hand2Hand is a charitable foundation that provides mentoring and opportunities to at-risk and disadvantaged youth. We look to identify young people who have been failed by family, the school system, and other traditional support structures. Those who come to us have been through a lot of the same struggles; abuse by their guardians, controlled substance use, poverty and bullying are just a few. But every human being is unique, and our students come to us as individuals with their own specific needs.
Our programmes are tailored to these individual needs. We personalise our plans by emphasising one-on-one mentoring. Each student we choose to work with is assigned a mentor who will be his or her guide for the 18 to 24 months of the programme. This mentor nurtures the student’s self-confidence, giving him or her close, personal attention and encouragement every step of the way.
The Hand2Hand foundation was established in 2007 to help our youth develop self confidence, belief and dignity, allowing them the opportunity to step up and reach their true potential. Our ambition is to identify ‘at risk’ and disadvantaged youth, who may otherwise fall into a pathway to crime and disorder, and to intervene before their wayward journey takes them too far.
After introducing a student to his or her mentor, we create a plan designed to develop their unique potential. Our mentors help them identify a passion. Then, we call on our connections and partnerships in academics, employment, training and enterprise to create opportunities that would not otherwise have been available. Collaborating with all potential sources of support, such as their schools, faith groups, and local government agencies, we show them that they have the ability to make their own success if they are willing to put in the hard work and make that personal choice.
This personal, individualised approach can produce miraculous results. We have above a 90% success rate in keeping our young people working at their programmes for 24 months or more, and we have helped over one thousand five hundred to totally change the direction of their lives. Many of our successful students even go on to mentor others, paying forward the support and attention they received!
Our work would not be possible without the hundreds of wonderful mentors and volunteers who invest their time, energy and passion in this project. We thank each and every one of you for your generosity and dedication, and we feel truly honoured to be doing this good work with you.
“It is a beautiful thing to create, to produce, to go out of the world
and make a great contribution. But it is just as important, if not more
so, that we help others to do the same – that we teach others to
create and produce, that we encourage them, that we support them
to succeed.”
-- Suhail Hanif, Hand2Hand Founder
