The Gareth Gawaine Forbes Foundation for Underserved Youths

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Who We Are

The Gareth Gawaine Forbes Foundation for Underserved Youths, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting educational inequities by providing underserved youths with access to quality education. Although education is the cornerstone that leads to upward social mobility, independence and growth, the world has long been in an education crisis. Learning Poverty is on the rise and those hardest hit are underserved youths (youths from low-income families). The GGFF believes that helping underserved youths to access quality education and maneuver the challenges along their educational journey transforms individuals, families, communities and entire nations. When underserved youths receive the education that they need, they are equipped to break socio-economic barriers, realize their dreams and advance their communities.

Vision

To improve the lives of underserved youths by increasing their access to quality education.

Mission

The GGFF encourages, promotes and supports educational advancement of underserved youths worldwide. It is committed to:

  • Reducing absenteeism amongst underserved youths
  • Sourcing and providing quality educational resources to underserved youths
  • Increasing academic performance (numeracy and literacy) of underserved youths 
  • Helping underserved youths navigate from one tier of the educational ladder to the next.Encouraging and supporting educators who serve in underserved communities and lighting lights of hope to guide underserved youths and their communities to upwards social mobility.

Values

Compassion: We are committed to operating from a place of love, kindness, respect and empathy towards others within the world and our organization.

Collaboration: We believe that working in community allows us to accomplish a more meaningful impact than can be achieved alone 

Commitment to quality: We challenge ourselves to be excellent and to hone the discipline that leads to perpetual improvement.

Clarity: Open, honest, responsible actions and decisions.

Diversity: We know that embracing and utilizing the benefits of differences and similarities will help us build and enhance sustainable relationships.

Integrity: We are dedicated to deliberate actions and practices that are conceived and executed in good faith to further the organization’s goals and priorities.

Purposefulness: The organization’s goals and priorities motivates us.

The GGFF is dedicated to achieving our vision through the execution of our mission in accordance with to our core values

Read The GGFF’s Statement of Commitment to Core Values

What We Do

Between 2015-2017, the UN reported that “Globally, an estimated 617 million children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age —more than 55 per cent of the global total—lacked minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics in 2015. One third of those children and adolescents were out of school and urgently needed access to education.” Following the COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO reported that the number of out of school students soared to 94 percent of the world’s student population.
As the world struggles to recover from the COVID pandemic, the education crisis continues to wreak havoc on the poorest people in the world. Even in first world nations, underserved youths are most likely to miss school due to economic and other factors. In 2023 a report by AP said that “Millions of kids are missing weeks of school as attendance tanks across the US. The situation is not better for underserve youths in other nations. Even when some of these underserved youths attend school they do not have the resources that they need to excel. The GGFF has made it our mandate to reduce the global learning poverty by targeting and helping underserved youths on their educational journey.

Reduce Absenteeism

The GGFF engages with local community leaders and institutions to identify whether youths have been missing school and the reasons behind their absenteeism.

We work with local leaders, institutions, families and youths to help the youths overcome the barriers that prevent them from attending school and gaining an education.

Man in Black and White Polo Shirt Beside Writing Board

Increase Literacy and Numeracy Levels

Many underserved youths may be able to attend school especially if tuition is free. However, often times these youths do not have the resources to help them grasp basic concepts.

The GGFF helps provide youths with the resources that they need to excel in the classroom.

Engage with and Transform Communities

When global poverty increases so too does crime and violence. Youths who cannot access acceptable paths to upward social mobility resort to lives of crime. Scamming and looting are prominent in such communities where youths are given little chance to advance through educational channels.

The GGFF works with local leaders, institutions and families to foster a positive attitude towards education and to secure the help of the community in keeping youths off the streets and in the educational system.

The GGFF Transforming The World, One Community at a Time

The GGFF’s Pilot Project: San Rafael Integrated School, Sorsogon, The Philippines, October 2024

Join Our Cause

Educating Today’s Youths for A Brighter Tomorrow

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Contact Us

Contact us to learn more about our mission.

Meet The GGFF Team

Founder & Executive Director

Natasha Forbes Matheis

Natasha is a lawyer and theologian by training. She lives in Georgia, USA. Her passion is women and children empowerment. Advocacy, organization and problem-solving are some of her areas of expertise.

Vice President

Natasha Coley

Natasha works in the transportation construction industry. She lives in Canada and has over 20 years experience in executive administration and sales. Natasha has strong administrative and organization skills.

Secretary

Melanie Bailey-Treiber

Melanie is the Managing Director of Polysciences Europe GmbH. She lives in Germany and is a Chemical and Process Engineer with a MBA in Banking and Finance. Melanie has over 25 years of experience in Project Management, Risk Analysis and Sales and Business Development.

Treasurer

Alexander Matheis

Alexander is a Manager and has over 20 years in the automotive industry. He lives in Georgia, USA. Project management, strategic planning, data analysis are execution are amongst his strongest skills.

Director

Shantel Gray

Shantel lives in the British Virgin Islands and holds a Bachelor of Law and Business from the University of Essex. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Shantel has a keen knowledge of procedural intricacies and is skillful in organization, advocacy, ethics and conflict resolution.

Director

Tina Lartey

Tina is a Certified Chartered Accountant. She lives in the UK and has over 30 years of experience in accounting. Tina has served on the board of nonprofit organizations where she used her skills in financial management on both a local and international level. She is a critical thinker and offers financial advice, leadership and guidance to The GGFF.

Director

Dr. Suzanne Robinson-Davis

Suzanne lives in Canada and has over 20 years experience in public health. She holds a PhD in Health and Behavior Studies from Columbia University and worked at the national and international levels to solve vexing public health problems. Suzanne has strong problem-solving, collaboration and cross- cultural communications skills.

Director

Meryl Zaiser

Meryl resides in Germany and The Philippines. She holds a BA in Psychology and has years of experience in Behavioral Therapy and Human Resources Management. Amongst other skills, Meryl possesses expertise in conflict resolution, communication, and data analysis.

Director

Simone Williams

Simone is a Student Success Strategist. She lives in Jamaica and holds a M.A in Higher Education, a BSc. in Chemistry, a Dip. in Psychology, a Dip. in Inclusive Education and a PG Diploma in Teaching. Simone is a strong advocate, teacher, cross-cultural communicator and collaborator.

Director

Sheila Supelana

Sheila is a Neuro-Psychologist who lives in The Netherlands. She travels extensively for academic and work purposes and amongst her strongest skills are cross-cultural communication, collaboration, data analysis and critical thinking. Sheila is adept at project management and execution.

Support Member

Hermine Edwards

Hermine is a retired seamstress and educator. Over the years, she has played instrumental leadership roles in her community, working with youths and women, as a youth leader, care group leader and leader of the women’s auxiliary in her church. Hermine considers it her life’s call to guide the young and help them achieve their fullest potential. She hopes to offer practical advice to the GGFF.

Support Member

Sonia Wilson

Sonia is a retired Registered Nurse. She lives in Canada where she spends most of her time tending to family, investing in education and engaging in public speaking. Sonia is a strong communicator, advocate, problem solver and critical thinker.