For nearly two decades, a Grenadian nonprofit organization has been transforming the lives of vulnerable young people across the island nation. Since its founding in 2005, Reach Within has dedicated itself to advancing the physical, emotional, and social well-being of thousands of children and adolescents who reside in residential care facilities and foster care across Grenada.
Working hand-in-hand with the island’s Child Protection Authority (CPA), Reach Within delivers a multi-layered portfolio of support tailored to meet the unique needs of young people at every stage of their journey in the care system. For children and teens currently living in care homes, the organization offers accessible, trauma-informed healing activities that range from music and yoga to team sports and creative arts, designed to help young people process adverse experiences and build healthy coping skills. Beyond direct youth programming, Reach Within also provides specialized trauma-informed training for the caregivers and facility staff who work with these vulnerable young people on a daily basis, equipping them with the tools to support long-term healing.
For young adults who have aged out of the care system and face overlapping challenges including financial instability, housing insecurity, and unaddressed mental health needs, Reach Within extends critical transitional support. This includes one-on-one mentoring and professional counseling, access to food and other essential material supplies, advocacy for affordable housing, and hands-on job training to build employable skills.
Over the past 12 months, the organization has expanded its impact through innovative skills-building initiatives, including courses in crochet craftsmanship and sustainable hydroponic farming. These hands-on programs double as entrepreneur training, giving young people the opportunity to develop marketable skills that foster independence, economic self-sufficiency, and long-term personal growth. This work not only changes individual lives but contributes to the positive development of Grenada’s next generation, aligning with the core belief that investing in youth is the foundation of a brighter, more innovative future for the entire country.
Donnet Williams, Reach Within’s Director of Programmes, explained the core mission that drives the organization’s work. “Reach Within’s Self-Regulation and Transitional Living Programmes strive to create positive and meaningful connections and experiences for the children and youth we serve,” Williams said. “We want our young people to learn that they hold the power to dictate how their story unfolds and the direction their lives take, even after experiencing adverse childhood experiences and life’s many adversities.”
Williams went on to highlight how the organization meets young people where they are, removing barriers to support. “Through our programmes, we meet them where they are, provide them with simple yet impactful tools, skills, resources, and a dependable support system to facilitate resilience,” she said. “Through the generosity of grant funding from the Clara Lionel Foundation, we’re able to deepen our reach and touch many more lives, giving our youth a much-needed chance to learn to thrive.”
This expanded programming became possible thanks to a new grant partnership between Reach Within and the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), a global philanthropic organization dedicated to building thriving, resilient communities by empowering local community innovators to lead grassroots change. CLF funds impactful initiatives across five core priority areas: Arts & Culture, Climate Solutions, Future Generations, Health Access & Equity, and Women’s Entrepreneurship. To date, the foundation has distributed more than $100 million in grants to organizations working in the Caribbean, East Africa, and the southern United States, prioritizing communities that have historically been underserved by mainstream philanthropy.
For Reach Within, the new funding from CLF not only expands existing programming but opens the door to reaching hundreds more vulnerable young people across Grenada, turning the vision of empowered, self-sufficient youth across the island into a tangible reality.