An education, leadership, community service & travel program for young adults
Opening the World (OTW) is a non-profit program that provides a safe and supportive environment for young adults at risk to share their experiences, be motivated and mentored by peers from similar backgrounds, and explore new experiences through community-building activities (i.e., peer bonding, community service, travel), capacity building (i.e. vocational, educational and leadership skills development), and healing interventions.
OTW helps young adults feel valued, learn to trust, build resiliency, reframe their pasts and consider new potential outcomes.
What We Do
Build Community
Opening the World effectively builds community between participants, local leaders, and the local and global communities we serve. Through peer bonding activities, peer mentoring, educational and community events, and volunteer opportunities, we combat isolation and encourage community.
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Promote Growth
From the very first interview, we try to identify ways to promote a participant’s individual growth. We assess participant needs, identify resources, and create opportunities for them to challenge and expand their vision of what is possible in life through educational, vocational, and leadership development opportunities and support.
Facilitate Healing
By providing a safe environment, peer community, and capacity-building skills, OTW empowers its young adults, giving them the courage to be vulnerable and consider addressing their historic trauma. We provide regular group and peer support and when our participants feel they are ready for deeper healing, we encourage them to pursue individual therapy.
Meet Me Where I’m At: Empathy Heals
This campaign, funded by the California Department of Public Health, aims to raise awareness about mental health and substance use by sharing knowledge, resources, and personal stories to empower our community. Our goal is to reduce stigma, promote open conversations, and create a supportive environment where individuals feel seen, heard, and connected to the help they need.
Follow us on Instagram @otwforyouth to learn more about our classes.
“Through my experience with OTW, I’ve gained a family and learned that healing is possible through the act of helping others.”
Diana had a difficult start in life. Her journey from childhood to adulthood was filled with many bumps along the way, including domestic violence, depression, social isolation, parentification, financial hardship, and the loss of a loved one.
OTW offered Diana a safe space to heal from her past while teaching her to believe in her own personal power. She became an OTW leader and then went on to successfully graduate from UC San Diego and complete a Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business, and Technology. She is the first OTW graduate to obtain a master’s degree.
