At YEPP, we are dedicated to transforming the lives of underserved young people by breaking down the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future. We serve as a comprehensive support centre for youth from migrant backgrounds, addressing the unique and intersecting challenges they face in education and social integration.
Through targeted programs in STEM, mental wellbeing, and personal development, we equip young people with the tools they need to thrive. We champion gender equality, advocate for rights-based policies, and conduct meaningful research — ensuring that the voices and needs of the communities we serve shape the systems around them.
At YEPP, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed — and we’re here to make that possible.
Vision Statement:
To transform outcomes for underserved youths by serving as their comprehensive support center – delivering programs that ensure educational success and social integration, advocating for rights-based policies and conducting vital research.
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to eliminate barriers to educational achievement and social integration by addressing the unique intersectional challenges faced by migrant background youth, with particular attention to advancing STEM, mental wellbeing, personal development, policy advocacy and gender equality.
Thus, the program is co-created, and pursues an informal approach to learning that builds social and psychological abilities and skill-sets of youths and young people. It seeks educational information, learning resources, aids, and opportunities across geographical boundaries, in partnership with private organizations, and facilitates access for our registered members specifically, and underserved groups generally.
YEPP Ry is a Social Enterprise that provides support for underserved youths ages 9-18 to excel in education and social life. The YEPP program is based on the proven benefits of social, cultural and psychological approaches to learning and wellbeing for youths and young people. It was created in response to educational and social challenges that youth of immigrant background face in Finland specifically, and more generally in Europe. Several findings from surveys and research highlights the higher dropout rate and mental health struggles, lower admission to university and fewer admissions to STEM programmes, of immigrant origin youths. For example: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (2020) survey on immigrant health and wellbeing in Finland reveals that immigrant background kids perform poorly at school. Myrskylä (2011) study shows that the risk for youths of immigrant origin to dropout from school and end up outside of the workforce is 5 times higher than native Finnish youths. In addition, immigrant parents have reported struggles faced by their children and the scarcity of ready tools to improve holistic integration in our ethnic and religious associations. More so, immigrant youths were key participants in the development of the program through focus group discussion at the start of the program in 2021 and evaluation interviews in 2022.
Thus, the program is co-created, and pursues an informal approach to learning that builds social and psychological abilities and skill-sets of youths and young people. It seeks educational information, learning resources, aids, and opportunities across geographical boundaries, in partnership with private organizations, and facilitates access for our registered members specifically, and underserved groups generally.
To provide enriching educational, social, and international experiences that broaden horizons, spark curiosity, and foster a lifelong love of informal learning.
To build an inclusive friendship network among young people of diverse migrant, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds — creating a safe space for emotional support, peer learning, and meaningful connection.
To offer early-stage professional and career guidance, coaching, and mentorship that helps young people manage anxiety, build confidence, and navigate life’s big questions during critical and challenging periods.
To cultivate a culture of social justice and civic engagement, empowering youth to understand their rights, raise their voices, and step into their roles as active changemakers in their communities.
To provide personalized support and guidance to every young person we work with, ensuring they have the tools, resources, and encouragement needed to thrive — both academically and in their social lives.
1. To give educational, social and international exposure for inspiration and informal learning
2. To create a friendship network of young immigrant youths of diverse socioeconomic and ethnic
background for emotional support, peer learning, and play.
3. To provide professional and career guidance and coaching at an early stage to deal with anxiety,
boost confidence and explore life questions during challenging periods.
4. To teach social justice and civic engagement to engage the youths as changemakers
5. To support and guide every registered child to success in education and social life.
YEPP empowers young people from migrant and underserved backgrounds to overcome systemic barriers and reach their full potential — academically, socially, and personally.
We do this by combining hands-on programs in STEM, mental wellbeing, career guidance, and civic engagement with a strong peer community built on diversity and belonging. Unlike generic youth services, YEPP takes a holistic, intersectional approach — addressing not just educational gaps, but the emotional, social, and structural challenges that too often go unnoticed.
From early mentorship to policy advocacy, we walk alongside every young person on their journey — turning potential into achievement and challenges into stepping-stones for a better future.
Empowering youth. Transforming futures. Driving change.
Founder & Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson
Secretary General
Youth Worker
Volunteer
Volunteer
