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OUR STORY

A noticeable gap with youth development was identified by members of the Chaldean community who were very involved in many programs. After months of brainstorming they decided to partner with established non-profits to provide services that many youth in the community did not have access to or know about. Members of the Chaldean community started to brainstorm and decided to partner with established non-profits to provide services that many youth in the community did not have access to or know about. The target group that we believed needed assistance was the Chaldean refugee youth. The Ayana Chaldean Mentoring affinity group came to life in mid 2015 and had a goal to provide one-on-one mentorship for our youth who could benefit the most. A partnership was then finalized with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego and we became the first successful refugee mentorship program in the country. By hosting successful fundraisers the affinity group was able to provide funds to support the cause and even had generous contributors that wanted to help in other ways. 

In 2017 the affinity group partnered with the YMCA of San Diego to provide a scholarship that would support 30 our Chaldean refugee youth’s transportation and attendance during their annual summer camp programs. That initiative grew to assist 40 youth for the following years and continues today. Through our assistance, the YMCA and Big Brothers Big Sisters in San Diego have also teamed up to provide complimentary memberships to the YMCA facilities for all Bigs and Littles. In 2019, after much deliberation, The Ayana Chaldean Mentoring affinity group decided to create an independent non-profit organization called The Ayana Group. Through years of assisting the community the group then decided to broaden their horizons of support to include all underprivileged Chaldean children in the community. 

In 2020 The Ayana Group became a legal 501c3 organization and is able to fundraise and disburse funds at the discretion of the Board of Directors. 
Our efforts have successfully enriched children’s lives since our launch in 2015. The children;

  • Were provided positive role models and relationships to help them grow

  • Behavior dramatically improved at home and in school

  • Increased their performance at school and raised their grades

  • Created more meaningful friendships with the right groups of friends

  • Learned to understand the implications that harmful substances can cause to their lives

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