Our History
The Gareth Gawaine Forbes Foundation for Underserved Youths, Inc. (The GGFF) was established in honor of the late Gareth Gawaine Forbes, a Jamaican attorney whose life exemplified compassion, perseverance and philantrophy. Mr Forbes believed that education is one of the most worthwhile journeys to human development and social and economic freedom. His own life journey began in humble beginnings, within a single parent household, on farmlands in the rural countryside of Jamaica. Times were trying but through determination and educational opportunities, he was able to travel many paths and to achieve new and higher levels of enlightenment and independence. Mr Forbes understood that his achievements meant very little if he did not share his success stories and help with others find their path to success. During his lifetime, he helped many youths navigate their way to upward social mobility and economic independence through educational channels. He sat on school boards and was a beacon of hope for many youths.
Mr Forbes' life was cut short in 2019. But the light that he started still lives on through the many candles that were lit from the dreams and visions that he set ablaze. In 2019, The Gareth Gawaine Forbes Scholarship Fund was started using the offerings collected at Mr Forbes' homegoing service. Since then, this Fund has assisted many youths to attend and stay in school.
In 2024, The GGFF was formed to strengthen and expand Mr Forbes' visions. The organization is dedicated to sharing Mr Forbes' dreams, beliefs and efforts worldwide. It aims to ensure that what started as a small flicker of light spreads a bright, warm radiance globally-and helps to light the paths for many more youths. The organization focuses on helping youths achieve educational success by 1) helping to reduce global learning poverty and 2) fighting educational inequities. We are committed to increasing literacy and numeracy levels, providing quality education resources and opportunities and empowering underserved youths to reach their fullest potential.
Join us in our mission to make a difference in the lives of underserved youths.
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:
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Reducing absenteeism amongst underserved youths
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Sourcing and providing quality educational resources to underserved youths
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Increasing academic performance (numeracy and literacy) of underserved youths
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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
Meet Our GGFF Team.
Educating Today's Youth's
For A Brighter Tomorrow
The GGFF's mission is to ensure that every underserved youth has the opportunity to receive quality education and the support they need to succeed. We are dedicated to fostering equality and creating pathways for personal and academic growth. Through our innovative programs and partnerships, we are committed to breaking social barriers and transforming lives.
The GGFF currently operates in 4 geographical regions worldwide. These are: Africa, Asia, The Americas (Part of the USA and The Caribbean). We support youths between the ages of 4 and 24 years old on their educational journey by:
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Providing basic school supplies to youths as well as to educational institutions.
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Helping underserved youths access basic needs such as food, transportation and clothing eg. through lunch programs and school uniforms/attires.
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Assisting with tuitions.
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Securing and distributing educational materials to help educators as well as youths.
Why The GGFF?
Effective Resource Allocation: When you partner with and donate to the GGFF you get a chance to impact lives in remotest areas of the world. Youths in these regions often get overlooked in favor of city youths. However, there is much ambition, talent and needs in these remote areas and The GGFF is determined to help these youths from impoverished, rural communities around the world. In this way, your donations go to benefit the youths who need it most. More than 80% of our expenses go directly to work that transforms lives.
Transparent Operations: The GGFF handles all donations in a transparent manner and are accountable to our stakeholders. We make every reasonable effort to posts information on projects, and reports and define the types of information that must remain confidential due to practical legal, operational, safety and security considerations.
Strategic Partnerships: The GGFF identifies and partners with community leaders and institutions to help us effectively identify youths in need and their specific struggles. Strategic partnership helps us rely on a larger network to help youths and to track results.
Measurable Impact: The GGFF employs a model to ensure that our services provide measureable value to all stakeholders involved. From calculating the impact of every dollar to the outcome of each project, we track how your contributions have helped to move youths from point X to point Y.