About The International Organization for Adolescents
IOFA is an independent, nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status in the United States. IOFA was founded in 1999 in response to a gap in programming and services for adolescents around the world. Based in Chicago, IOFA is working in partnership with local organizations in over 20 countries to develop and implement sustainable programs and services for youth.
Our Mission
IOFA is dedicated to improving the lives of young people by addressing critical and emerging issues affecting vulnerable adolescents around the world.
Youth, Their Rights, Our Responsibility
IOFA envisions a world where youth are no longer subject to exploitation, violence and neglect; a world where every young person is able to exercise their human rights and realize their full potential as positive and productive members of society.
What We Do
IOFA carries out its mission by:
- Identifying Critical and Emerging Issues IOFA is an established leader in identifying critical and emerging issues that threaten the well-being of the world’s most vulnerable youth. From child trafficking in the former Soviet Republics and in the US, to girls being forced to drop out of school in Africa, IOFA has worked in more than 20 countries to improve the lives of young people.
- Conducting Original, Peer-Led Research Once identified, IOFA documents the negative impact of these critical and emerging issues on the well-being of vulnerable adolescents. By involving youth in IOFA’s research, our results provide great insights into developing innovative, yet practical approaches to solving complex and difficult problems confronting the world’s adolescent population.
- Developing Youth-participatory and Rights Based Solutions IOFA works at the community, national and international levels to conduct advocacy and develop sustainable programs and initiatives that empower and involve young people to play an active role in solving their problems.
- Establishing Collaborative Partnerships IOFA mobilizes support for implementing sustainable solutions by establishing collaborative partnerships and building the capacity of affected communities. IOFA has established hundreds of effective partnerships across the United States and the world.
Guiding Principles:
- Responsibility: IOFA believes we have an obligation to act when young people’s rights and well-being are threatened. Young people are key to the world’s future peace and prosperity and we must support their successful transition to adulthood.
- Rights-based: IOFA’s work is based on our belief in fundamental human rights, dignity and worth of all people, including adolescents. Our work is grounded in the Convention of the Rights of the Child.
- Youth-participatory: Involving youth in all aspects of IOFA’s work—from identifying and assessing the problem, to developing and implementing solutions—empowers young people as community assets and resources and produces more realistic and effective results.
- Collaboration: Nothing of great importance can be achieved alone. IOFA develops collaborative responses to the critical and emerging issues threatening young people by engaging and inspiring the involvement of other individuals, groups, communities, organizations, and governments.
- Innovation: IOFA develops creative solutions to the problems facing adolescents because our initiatives are based on peer led research assessments. Engaging the very people that are affected—youth themselves, yields fresh perspectives on problems and approaches that are effective because they meet the needs of youth they seek to serve.
- Strategic Action: IOFA’s action is targeted, well-researched, thoroughly planned, and professionally executed to achieve maximum results.
Measurement of Success
IOFA measures its success by the positive impact our work has on the lives of the young people we seek to serve. Measuring and documenting this success is a critical and integral component of IOFA’s work. To ensure that we are improving the lives of young people, every IOFA program is designed utilizing original, peer-led research results. These results then serve as a benchmark against which to measure the impact our work has on the lives of young people.
IOFA’s Impact
Since our inception in 1999, IOFA’s programs have positively impacted over 8000 youth, built the capacity of hundreds of community based organizations in over 20 countries, and trained 6000 government agencies, law enforcement, social service providers, advocates, and community based organizations.
- Nearly 400 young people in Latvia are safer after learning how to protect themselves from human trafficking through IOFA training.
- IOFA inaugurates first micro credit program for young women on the island of Ukerewe, Tanzania—a location considered too “risky" by others. The program results in higher repayment rate than any other microcredit program in the region.
- IOFA has trained more than 6000 U.S. border guards, police officers, prosecutors, and judges to identify and investigate human trafficking schemes.
- IOFA pioneers and launches multi-disciplinary working groups to develop community responses to human trafficking—an innovative approach combining police, prosecutors, and civil society.
