General Information

Youth of Diverse Families is a youth-led civil society organization committed to advancing the rights, empowerment, and wellbeing of young people coming from socially vulnerable and non-traditional family structures. Founded with the belief that every young person deserves equal opportunities regardless of their family background, the organization works to address the systemic barriers faced by single-parent families, foster and adoptive families, children without parental care, and youth growing up in conditions of social or economic instability.
Our mission is to create a society in which diverse family constellations are recognized, accepted, and fully supported through adequate public policies, social protection mechanisms, and community solidarity. Through our work, we strive to elevate the voices of marginalized youth, strengthen their capacities, and advocate for structural change that ensures long-term inclusion and social cohesion.
The organization leads and participates in a wide range of activities that respond to the complex needs of these communities. We conduct research and analyses to better understand the challenges faced by socially marginalized youth groups and use this evidence to guide institutional dialogue and policy reform. Youth of Diverse Families organizes seminars, trainings, and skill-building activities aimed at improving young people’s competencies, employability, and participation in social life. We strongly emphasize youth engagement in public decision-making and support their active involvement in the creation of youth policies and programs alongside relevant institutions.
A significant part of our work focuses on awareness-raising for social cohesion and the acceptance of diverse family structures within society. We consistently engage in public advocacy and maintain communication with state authorities, lobbying for improvements in laws related to higher education, social protection, and financial support for children from vulnerable families. One of our key advocacy achievements includes the “Pay A Semester” initiative, designed to support students from under-resourced family backgrounds in accessing higher education.
The organization also plans and implements national and international youth projects and contributes to public dialogue through extensive media presence, donor events, and institutional cooperation. We have addressed policymakers at national and European levels, including through open letters submitted to the European Commission. Our humanitarian work includes annual holiday campaigns providing gifts and necessities for children and youth from socially marginalized families, highlighting our commitment to both structural change and direct community support.
Youth of Diverse Families is currently developing a platform that will offer legal, social, and psychological support tailored to the specific needs of vulnerable young people. Our broader vision is to introduce comprehensive legal, health, educational, and labor-market frameworks that respond to these unique needs and contribute to a more inclusive society.
Driven by empathy, data-informed advocacy, and youth leadership, the organization continues to grow as a voice for positive change—working to ensure that no young person is left behind due to the circumstances of their family background.