Kaua‘i’s Greatest Treasure is Our Youth
He keiki aloha nā mea kanu / Beloved children are the plants. This proverb reveals that children need continuous care and nourishment to flourish. At the Kaua‘i Resilience Project, we are committed to nurturing our youth’s unlimited potential so that our island community can flourish and thrive.
Stewarding our youth’s potential is a community responsibility.
A big-picture approach.
The Kaua‘i Resilience Project originated when the broader community registered an unprecedented suicide crisis among island youth and young adults in 2018. Since then, we’ve expanded beyond our initial focus on immediate mental health intervention to address the complex social determinants of health that produce strong, resilient young men and women. Supporting local and Native Hawaiian families is our current priority.
Filling in the pukas.
We directly support the individuals, organizations and agencies who are investing in our youth and families. We act as a connective tissue so that the sum of all our impact is magnified through strategic collaboration.
A rising tide lifts all boats.
Every effort counts. The after-school program that offers valuable mentorship, instead of leaving our youth unsupervised out in the community; the restored lo‘i or loko i‘a that connect youth to their roots and identity; the workplace readiness program that empowers young people to earn a good living once they pau high school; the free movie night that gives working families a moment to bond with each other and their community. We support multiple partners in their chosen areas of focus. But we don’t stop there, because we know that while the methods may vary, we all share a common goal.
OUR APPROACH
Addressing the Social Determinants of Health
We are building resilience and addressing the complex factors behind youth and young adult suicide by addressing the social determinants of health that affect the next generation.
Career Pathways
Adapting education pathways to better equip today’s youth for tomorrow’s jobs.
Afterschool
Facilitating safe places after school where our youth can learn, grow, and thrive.
Life Skills
Helping youth to gain the skills they need to be financially stable and emotionally healthy.
Youth Leadership
Creating opportunities for youth to be heard and to impact their communities.
“
Goals plus pathways, plus agency, equals hope. Hope faces reality and creatively looks for a solution. It’s not a strategy or a crutch, it is a leadership approach. Personal leadership and agency are the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to create the kind of future we all want to live in.”
— Glen Gerreyn
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW
Goals + Pathways + Agency = Hope
The Kaua‘i Resilience Project is partnering with those leaders and organizations who are pushing the needle on youth resilience, leveraging our collective impact so that the next generation can thrive.
OUR PARTNERS.
We are honored to work with some of the most dedicated and passionate groups and individuals committed to ensuring abundance and opportunity for our youth.
OUR PROJECTS.
We endeavor to create alliances and fill needs where a single organization may not be able to.