Mentors and guidance for teens and beyond are at the heart of Denver-based Save Our Youth

The journey from the Central African Republic, via a refugee camp in Cameroon, was challenging enough.

By the time she arrived in Denver nearly a decade ago at age 17, Clara Datoloum was thoroughly in over her head. Save Our Youth, a nonprofit youth mentorship program, gave her critical direction and guidance.

“I needed someone to help me navigate the country,” said Datoloum, now 26. “I needed to know the rules, what is right and wrong.”

That guidance came from a mentor 12 years older than Datoloum and it made all the difference.

“She told me to study what I want,” Datoloum said. “And to make sure I choose a good career that makes my life easier.”

She graduated from Denver South High School and then attended Community College of Denver. She is now at Metro State University of Denver pursuing a master’s degree in social work. Working two jobs to make ends meet, Datoloum cares for her mother and her two younger brothers — both of whom are being mentored by Save Our Youth.

“We want to get them to the point where they don’t need Save Our Youth,” said Russel Dains, CEO of the Denver-based organization.

But for now there is a waiting list of 90 or so youth — 80% of whom come from single-parent or no-parent situations — looking to be partnered with mentors. Dains said that 259 mentees were enrolled in the program last year. This year, he expects that number to be closer to 300.

Save Our Youth, which serves clientele from 10 to 17 years of age from Brighton to Castle Rock, receives funding from The Denver Post Community Foundation’s Season to Share program. The organization, through its network of mentors, works on developing the life skills — goal setting, time management, initiative, self-advocacy, basic math, and communication — of its mentees in middle and high school.

It also extends support in the form of an adviser to mentees as they pursue post-secondary options, be it college, trade school or military service. Save Our Youth, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, also provides financial scholarships for tuition and books.

Save Our Youth, which was founded following Denver’s “Summer of Violence” in 1993, has plans to expand its outreach to Longmont. The organization follows Christian principles as part of its mission but Dains said mentorship is not limited to those of the Christian faith.

“There are zero faith requirements to be in the program,” he said. “We don’t proselytize to the kids.”

While mentors are needed, Dains said Save Our Youth is proud of the average tenure of mentorship that students receive — more than 52 months as compared to the national average of 16 months.

“We only ask for one year minimum engagement,” he said.

And from the mentees, Dains said they are asked to not give up as they overcome their challenges.

“We want to take the kids and really connect them to hope,” he said. “We want them to believe in something better and have them play a role in making it happen.”

Datoloum’s mentor worked with her for four years. They remain friends to this day.

“She’s such a huge part of my life,” she said.

Save Our Youth

Address: 3443 W. 23rd Ave. Denver, CO 80211
In operation since: 1994
Number of employees: 19
Number of volunteers: 242
Annual budget: $1.93 million
Number of clients served: 259