Our Story
Journey4YOUth was born from the desire to give back to humanity. You can't move forward if you don't give back.
Before becoming a 501(c)3 non profit organization in 2012, Journey4YOUth was used as a grassroots NGO to provide support for people who needed help.
Dec. 2007 // The first Journey4YOUth project was a self funded, road trip that Brian and a few friends took around the country. They rented a UHAUL and picked up donations in Cincinnati, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle and Tuscon. They delivered the household items to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans.
July 2008 // Journey4YOUth held a benefit concert for a Michigan Family who lost everything in a house fire. Working with other musicians and members in the community, Journey4YOUth was able to raise over $1000 and two truckloads of household items for the family.
Sep. 2009 - July 2010 // Brian & Katie Ernst did an overseas backpacking trip where they volunteered and traveled through Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia,and Lao The last 2 months of the trip they spent volunteering/living in Kaswanga Village, Kenya. It was in a little mud hut where the focus of Journey4YOUth became more clear.
In July 2010, Journey4YOUth started supporting the education/lunch programs of 35 children. Every year the education program has grown.Today, Journey4YOUth provides for the yearly school fees of 105 primary school students (plus new uniforms and shoes) as well as the boarding and school fees of 10 high school students and 4 special needs students.
Jan. 2018 // Journey4YOUth celebrates the graduation of Calvince, who is the first student to graduate college from the education program.
Before becoming a 501(c)3 non profit organization in 2012, Journey4YOUth was used as a grassroots NGO to provide support for people who needed help.
Dec. 2007 // The first Journey4YOUth project was a self funded, road trip that Brian and a few friends took around the country. They rented a UHAUL and picked up donations in Cincinnati, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle and Tuscon. They delivered the household items to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans.
July 2008 // Journey4YOUth held a benefit concert for a Michigan Family who lost everything in a house fire. Working with other musicians and members in the community, Journey4YOUth was able to raise over $1000 and two truckloads of household items for the family.
Sep. 2009 - July 2010 // Brian & Katie Ernst did an overseas backpacking trip where they volunteered and traveled through Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia,and Lao The last 2 months of the trip they spent volunteering/living in Kaswanga Village, Kenya. It was in a little mud hut where the focus of Journey4YOUth became more clear.
In July 2010, Journey4YOUth started supporting the education/lunch programs of 35 children. Every year the education program has grown.Today, Journey4YOUth provides for the yearly school fees of 105 primary school students (plus new uniforms and shoes) as well as the boarding and school fees of 10 high school students and 4 special needs students.
Jan. 2018 // Journey4YOUth celebrates the graduation of Calvince, who is the first student to graduate college from the education program.
Brian Ernst Music
Journey4YOUth receives a lot of it's support from friends and fans of Brian Ernst music. They donate 10% of their gross income as well as selling small handcrafts on the merch table that benefit various Journey4YOUth initiatives.
Journey4YOUth also has a few (very much appreciated) monthly donors.
Together, Brian & Katie have raised over $120,000 for various projects, non profits and NGO's including Journey4YOUth at the shows, concerts and tours.
Brian & Katie have also spoken/performed at schools all over the country and around the world.
Journey4YOUth also has a few (very much appreciated) monthly donors.
Together, Brian & Katie have raised over $120,000 for various projects, non profits and NGO's including Journey4YOUth at the shows, concerts and tours.
Brian & Katie have also spoken/performed at schools all over the country and around the world.
Calvince
Calvince is one of the young leaders of Journey4YOUth. He has overcome many obstacles in his life, including being a total orphan at a very young age. Calvince has worked very hard in both his studies and giving back to others in his community. In December of 2017, Calvince became the first student out of the Journey4YOUth program to graduate college with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Calvince has volunteered many of his school holidays to come work with Journey4YOUth. He is currently serving as an intern for Samaritan's Purse.
Calvince has volunteered many of his school holidays to come work with Journey4YOUth. He is currently serving as an intern for Samaritan's Purse.
O.W.W.H.
The Orphans and Widows with Hope (OWWH) is a self help group that has registered with the Kenyan Government. It is comprised of 35 mostly women and a few men. OWWH was self mobilized in 2013 as an independent group to help encourage and empower it's members (and their families/children). They elect their own leaders, including a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer as well as various other sub committees within the group.
The members work with Salmon and help make decisions together as a group as to how Journey4YOUth resources are to be allocated. They are close friends now as we have been working together since 2010.
The members work with Salmon and help make decisions together as a group as to how Journey4YOUth resources are to be allocated. They are close friends now as we have been working together since 2010.