About Us
Our Mission
To provide access to quality education and promote health and well-being for the next generation.
Our Vision
NextGen Initiative envisions a future with an empowered and successful generation fully realizing their potential and moving towards a brighter future for themselves.
Our Values
Community Centeredness
Inclusion
Belonging
Collaboration
Accountability
History
NextGen Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and improving access to quality education for low-income youth and supporting initiatives to improve health and well-being in Maine and Rwanda.
NextGen was founded by Therese Uwamahoro, along with a group of professionals and self-motivated Rwandans residing in Maine and Rwanda. Uwamahoro’s passion for making education and healthcare accessible was inspired by her desire to give back. When she moved to Maine, she received the Competitive Skills Scholarship from the state of Maine, without which she would not have been able to achieve her career and business goals.
Why Rwanda?
In the last 30 years, Rwanda has made tremendous progress in many areas, including considerable efforts to make education and healthcare accessible. However, there is still a need to increase high school and college retention and graduation rates and prepare young Rwandans for professional success in a competitive local and global job market. While many Rwandans have access to basic education, many still lack access to school supplies or the means to further their education.
Another major challenge is the lack of access to age-appropriate reproductive health education. This is often associated with unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and early marriages, leading several Rwandan girls and young women to drop out of school. These issues are compounded by the lack of mental health and counseling services as well as career guidance support.
To address these challenges, NextGen Initiative Rwanda will implement a comprehensive program to support girls and women in enrolling and remaining in school by providing school supplies, scholarships, need-based counseling, and career guidance. Furthermore, NextGen will collaborate with communities, families, and teachers to support initiatives providing age-appropriate reproductive health education.
NextGen will also offer strategic and personalized career guidance for young women and men interested in pursuing higher education or vocational training. Mentorship programs will be facilitated by pairing selected youth with successful professionals. Our approach will center local community needs and prioritize equitable partnerships. This community-engaged approach will promote the value of education and challenge cultural misconceptions and practices that contribute to school dropout.
Why Maine?
Maine has seen a significant increase in its immigrant population in recent years, particularly in urban areas like Portland and Lewiston. The state has become home to many new Americans from multiple East African countries, including Rwanda. Many new Mainers have been drawn to Maine’s welcoming communities, affordable housing, and potential healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing job opportunities. This population has contributed to Maine’s cultural diversity and helped offset the state’s aging demographic trends and workforce shortages.
However, immigrants in Maine face numerous challenges as they adapt to their new home. Language barriers often present significant obstacles in accessing education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Many need help with credentialing and having their professional qualifications recognized, leading to underemployment. An approach involving educational partnerships and community support services is crucial to address these complex needs. By developing strong collaborations with the community and local educational institutions such as Universities, community colleges, and adult education programs and providing merit scholarships, NextGen Initiative will help meet these needs.
We will also create a mentorship program, pairing immigrant students with local volunteers or successful immigrant professionals to provide academic guidance and cultural support. To address the issue of credential recognition, NextGen Initiative will develop and provide detailed guidelines and offer support to those navigating the credentialing process.
Make a difference.
We’re breaking down barriers to education and health for youth in Maine and Rwanda. Your support helps provide scholarships, mentorship, mental health resources, and reproductive health education, ensuring young people have the tools they need to thrive. Whether through volunteering, mentoring, or donating, you can help us create brighter futures.
