UrbanPromise International’s mission is to prepare emerging leaders to initiate, develop and sustain Christian-based youth development organizations as they serve vulnerable children and teens in our world’s most under-resourced communities.
UrbanPromise volunteers come from all over the world, and many have been inspired to start similar ministries to poor children back home, in cities from Vancouver BC to Lilongwe, Malawi. UrbanPromise International provides ongoing training and support for these exciting new ministries.
UrbanPromise started working with the children of Camden, New Jersey in 1988. Since then, the UrbanPromise model has been replicated in other cities in North America, and in 2003, the model was replicated in Malawi, Africa when William Nyasulu established YouthCare. UrbanPromise International has been established to formalize this process and provide the supports necessary for the model to be used in other communities.
Each UrbanPromise site and affiliate ministries are dedicated to providing children and youth with the supports that they need to succeed academically, grow spiritually, and prepare for leadership that will bring positive change to their own communities.
The Latest from UrbanPromise International
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The Heart of What We Do
by Urban Promise International’s Bruce Main
Twenty-five years ago UrbanPromise in Camden, NJ was started by a small group of college interns. These young leaders, fresh out of college, were filled with idealism and energy. They built the foundation on which the ministry now stands. UP has always believed in the potential of young adult leaders.
This summer, UrbanPromise International has helped launch an internship program in Malawi, allowing college students the opportunity to serve in practical ways in the existing affiliate ministries throughout the country. They teach, they coach, they lead songs, they mentor, they role model…they love Malawi’s most vulnerable children in the name of Jesus.
Meet Nathan and Innocent (left to right in photo above). Innocent works with ProjectTEACH, just graduated from the African Bible College (ABC), and is an avid soccer player. At TEACH, Innocent coaches the under 14 team and teaches Bible at the day camp. Nathan serves at Rays of Hope. Nathan is going into his junior year at ABC and studies communications. At Rays he teaches computers in the morning and teaches Art and Literature at the summer camp.
These extraordinary young men embody the spirit of the intern program–they love children, work long hours, and see themselves as part of changing Malawi.
