Youth On Their Own (YOTO) CEO Elizabeth Slater recently chatted with Great.com host Emil Ekvardt about YOTO as part of their ‘Great.com Talks With…’ podcast. This series is an antidote to negative news stories that aims to shed light on organizations and experts whose work is making a positive impact on the world.
Time and again, research has shown that education is the world’s great equalizer; by making sure young people stay in school for as long as possible, we maximize their chances of success in the adult world. Elizabeth discussed the importance of helping youth experiencing homelessness graduate from high school.
The school dropout rate among youth experiencing homelessness is exceptionally high. This is because their primary focus becomes meeting the basic needs that ensure their survival. Sadly, education takes a back seat in many cases. Youth On Their Own aims to stop youth from dropping out to earn money by paying them to stay in school.
Elizabeth explained that youth are offered a financial incentive for making their grades, as well as all the basic things they need to participate in school life such as clothes, school supplies, toiletries, and food. It’s the simple items like these that most people don’t think of when discussing homelessness, but they are often a huge barrier to attendance.
Listen to the whole interview to find out how YOTO champions the mental health and emotional wellbeing of youth experiencing homelessness, ensuring that they feel cared for and supported.
Great.com is an organization that is changing the way people think about charity, development, and organizations. They’re leading the next generation of charitable giving with their completely remote and radically transparent team. Find out more.
