Jénine Shepherd: Extending Helping Hands

In a world where education is the cornerstone of opportunity, a young Jénine dared to reach beyond textbooks and exams to make a tangible difference. Meet the founder of Youths For Excellence Ltd., a beacon of hope for thousands of children and families across multiple countries. Her journey began with a simple desire to lend helping hands, blossoming into a global movement that has transformed countless lives. Join us as we delve into the inspiring tale behind this remarkable organization, exploring the passion, perseverance, and profound impact of this youthful trailblazer. 

EJM: Can you share the inspiration behind founding Youths For Excellence Ltd. at such a young age, and how it has evolved since its inception? 

Jénine: I founded Youths For Excellence in June of 2015 when I was just 17 years old out of a need to feel productive one summer. I was in lower 6th form at Campion College and was juggling studying for 6 CAPE Unit 1 exams and SAT classes. I was looking for opportunities to give back and spoke to my friends about things we could do. Some suggested volunteering in something around education. Given our academic inclinations, that made the most sense. Just the previous year, I had completed 15 CSEC subjects with distinctions, placing 10th in the island for Additional Mathematics. I was one of three students from Vaz Prep to receive a government scholarship in my year, at the time we were the first ones to do it. So doing something around schooling was a no-brainer for me and my friends. We decided we would tutor some children, for what was at the time called GSAT. As I began to dig deeper into my vision for that summer, I began to identify gaps in our simple act of volunteering to tutor. I wanted to understand what the root causes of low educational achievement were. This would be our value-add as a new group that was essentially run by high schoolers- what would we be doing that was so different from that of qualified educational professionals who were imparting knowledge year-round? We had to tackle poverty itself. A child not learning in a classroom went beyond just the pedagogy and the curriculum; it extended to their health, nutrition, resources for learning at their disposal, and the financial health of their families. This is what led Youths For Excellence to be founded around the principles of wraparound education support. Our first project started with 600 children across 3 schools: Pembroke Hall Primary, Franklin Town Primary, and Cockburn Gardens Primary, with the support of 11 of the largest corporate and government entities, like KFC, JUTC, Seprod, Grace Kennedy, Sangster’s Book Stores, etc. Since then, we have grown to span 8 countries, having impacted over 12,000 children and their families with the backing of over 30 corporations and government agencies.

EJM: How can individuals get involved with Youths For Excellence Ltd., and what benefits can they expect from contributing to or participating in your organization's initiatives? 

Jénine: Persons can get involved in one of two ways: volunteering with us and interning with us. We put out notices on our social media platforms (@youthsforexcellence on Instagram and Facebook and @YFEIntl on Twitter) as well as our website (www.youthsforexcellence.org) about when we are accepting applications. We also utilise the Handshake platform. Our interns have come to us from Princeton University, the University of Southern California, the University of the West Indies, and several top high schools across the respective islands we operate in. Internships run for three months and volunteer opportunities come up on an ad hoc basis based on the organisation's needs. Internships cover three main areas: marketing, journalism, and project management. Persons with strong backgrounds in political science, economics, finance, journalism and writing, marketing, and business development are encouraged to apply. Persons who have interned with us have grown to become a part of the organization’s Executive Leadership structure once they have proven their value to our mission. Some have gone on to manage entire countries on our behalf and used the knowledge they gained with us to launch new companies. By working with us, they gained access to our Board of Directors composed of current and former Ministers of Government, billionaire business tycoons, and leaders in the NGO and healthcare sectors. They get hands-on experience shaping the policies we put before governments, this is an experience that young people would have been barred from getting in other spaces due to their youth. 

EJM: You've been recognized with numerous awards, including the Diana Award and the Prime Minister's Youth Award for Nation Building. How have these accolades influenced your work and vision for the future? 

Jénine: They have served as powerful motivational tools for my team. Every accolade I have ever received was made possible by a strong team. They take joy in knowing that the work is being seen and respected by key decision-makers. These recognitions have landed us the credibility needed as young people to push forward and create change in a culture that does not heavily value the work that NGOs do. They have provided us with a platform to have difficult conversations about the deficiencies in our NGO infrastructure compared to more developed nations. The networks gained through the Anthem Award that I shared with the likes of Rihanna, Oprah, Lil Nas X, UNICEF, and even Michelle Obama, are beneficial to our work. Creating change involves meeting up with like-minded individuals who have the same objectives you do. It is good to expand your horizons beyond what you are familiar with in Jamaica and see how other cultures do their activism- you compare notes and swap ideas test them in your environments and evaluate the success of these new methods. It is one continuous learning curve. As such, I have remained open-minded. 

EJM: What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs and philanthropists who aspire to positively impact their communities and beyond? 

Jénine:  There are two things: be very clear in your vision and mission and just start. It is important to carve out a niche area you want to focus on so you avoid scope creep. Nobody supports something they don’t understand, whether that is other young people you want to bring into the fold of your team or older decision-makers who can make things happen for your organization. You need to pick an area and stick to it and even more importantly, learn how to communicate that vision and mission effectively. People do not live inside your head. Support for any initiative is only possible if you can relay that vision very clearly to other people. If you cannot say what your organization does in less than 60 characters, you are probably just as confused about your work as the average person on the street. When asked what Youths For Excellence does, my answer is “We provide wraparound educational support”- exactly 41 characters. On my second point, NO ONE is going to come rushing to your aid. You have to get the ball rolling on your own. Most people will laugh at you until they want to know how you did it. My calls to corporations were ignored for weeks on end until I got my first YES. If you don’t have the heart for rejection, this space is not for you. Youths For Excellence did not happen overnight, it has been 8 and a half years. People just started seeing these awards in the last 5 years. I toiled for three years before first being recognized with the Prime Minister’s Award. I’ve known persons who have toiled for over a decade before their first big sponsor or major donor. 

EJM: How do you balance your philanthropic endeavours, entrepreneurial pursuits, and personal life to ensure effectiveness and well-being? 

Jénine: God is my all in all. I have worship at least once a day. I’m a Baptized Seventh-Day Adventist. The daily quarterly lessons keep me grounded. Psalm 46 is my favourite passage in the Bible. It is very easy to slip and lose your way when you’re in You get to see how cruel the world really is to the most vulnerable members of our society and you will also experience their cruelty towards you who are just trying to create good in the world. It is a very sobering experience and it can lead to burnout and fatigue if you do not address it. By reading the Bible, you understand that what is happening to you is not new. Look what happened to Jesus. Being grounded in the scriptures helps to arm you with the tools needed to protect your peace of mind. Having worship with your friends and family is the icing on top of the cake. Surround yourself with people who want the best for you and help you grow spiritually. failures, especially if they were due to corporate fraud. I make time to play with my dog, call up a friend to see how they’re doing or meet up with them for lunch. Relationships with friends and family are important- building a company is a very lonely journey, you need your tribe and your outlets for emotional release. 

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As we conclude our exploration of Jénine’s journey and Youths For Excellence Ltd., one thing becomes abundantly clear: the power of youth and the impact of unwavering dedication. From humble beginnings to global recognition, this organization stands as a testament to the transformative potential of compassion and action. Through Jénine’s tireless efforts, Youths For Excellence has not only provided educational support but has also instilled hope, resilience, and a belief in the limitless possibilities of every child. Let us carry forward the spirit of service and the belief that with helping hands, we can shape brighter futures for generations to come. 

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