Greensboro, North Carolina · Founded 2026

Future Forward
Youth Initiative

We exist so no student ever feels lost, forgotten, or without a path forward. Born from struggle. Built for every student still fighting.

Founded by Chadli Boukari & Omer Abaker

Our Mission Our Story

We know what it feels like to be one step away from losing everything.

Both of us are sons of African immigrants. Our parents left everything they knew — their homes, their families, their comfort — and crossed an ocean to give us a chance at a better life. They sacrificed more than we will ever fully understand.

We hit hard times. We struggled with absences. We faced the real possibility of not graduating. And in the middle of that pain, instead of giving up, we decided to build something.

"We never want another student to go through what we went through alone. That is why Future Forward Youth Initiative exists."

We are two seniors from Grimsley High School who turned our hardship into purpose. This nonprofit is our promise to this community — that every student deserves a second chance.

2 Founders from
African immigrant families

1 Mission: no student
left behind

100% Committed to
every student

∞ Belief in second
chances

What we stand for

Our Mission

Four pillars that guide everything we do — built from lived experience, designed to create real change.

🎓

Keep Students in School

We intervene early when students begin missing school — connecting them with real support before withdrawal becomes the only option.

🤝

Mentorship & Support

Pairing struggling students with mentors who have lived the same experience. The best guide is someone who already walked the path.

🌍

Immigrant & First-Gen Students

Special focus on children of immigrants who carry the weight of their family's entire sacrifice on their shoulders every single day.

📜

Graduation Advocacy

We fight alongside students at risk of not graduating — helping them navigate the system and find every possible path to their diploma.

How it works

Our 4-Step Program

A clear, proven process to bring students back from the edge and walk them all the way to graduation day.

Identify & Reach Out

We partner with schools to identify students who are beginning to slip through the cracks — high absences, failing grades, at risk of withdrawal. We reach out before it is too late, before the door closes.

Connect & Listen

Every student has a story. We sit down with them, hear what is really going on in their life, and build a personalized plan to get them back on track — without judgment, without shame.

Mentor & Walk Alongside

We pair each student with a mentor for weekly check-ins, homework help, attendance accountability, and emotional support. No student walks the road alone under our watch.

Celebrate & Inspire

When a student graduates, their story becomes fuel for the next. We celebrate every single win loudly and use those stories to show every struggling student — it is possible.

The people behind it

Our Founders

Two seniors from Grimsley High School who refused to let hardship be the final chapter.

Chadli Boukari

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Son of African immigrants who came to America with nothing but hope. Chadli turned his personal struggle with school withdrawal into a mission to make sure no student ever goes through that fight alone.

🌍 African Heritage · Greensboro, NC

Omer Abaker

Co-Founder & Director of Outreach

Also the son of African immigrants who sacrificed everything for a better future. Omer brings lived experience and deep empathy to every student FFYI serves, ensuring no voice goes unheard.

🌍 African Heritage · Greensboro, NC

What guides us

Our Core Values

Four words. One promise.

Accountability

We own our mistakes and use them to grow — and we teach our students to do the same.

Empathy

We lead with understanding, never judgment. Every student deserves to be truly heard.

Resilience

We believe hardship is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of the best one.

Community

No student walks alone under our watch. Ever.

Every student deserves a
chance to finish their story.

Whether you are a student who needs help, a school looking to partner with us, or someone who wants to support our mission — we want to hear from you.

Future ForwardYouth Initiative