VOYAGE Youth

Voice of Youth and Genuine Empowerment (VOYAGE) is a social justice charity that aims to empower marginalised young black people in London and provide them with the self-awareness and motivation to transform themselves and their communities.  

VOYAGE’s mission is to encourage and assist young people bridge the gap between their schools, communities and criminal justice system. VOYAGE encourages them to become active, empowered and environmentally conscious citizens whilst supporting young people to rise towards higher education and the world of work. 

Its programmes include community safety and leadership workshops, leadership initiatives such as Young Leaders for Safer Cities, personal development courses, and mentoring for young black people. Integrated in these programmes are support for homework, access to higher learning, career development, and emotional support. Synchronicity Earth has supported the career development aspect by providing paid summer work experience placements, one of which was extended into a nine-month internship. 

VOYAGE was a key partner in Race for Nature’s Recovery, a project which leveraged the UK government’s Kickstarter Scheme for unemployed young people to support over a hundred young people from diverse backgrounds to hold six months paid placements in environmental organisations across the country. The project was run by four organisations: VOYAGE Youth, Action for Conservation, SOS-UK, and Generation Success. Synchronicity Earth supported the project through the Synchronicity Portfolio and held a placement for a Communications Assistant.  

VOYAGE Youth’s new and bespoke leadership BTEC programme Young Leaders for Sustainable Cities aims to attract young people into the green sector. The course covers climate and environmental injustice, sustainability, preparing for climate emergencies and young people will create a project plan to address a sustainability issue of their choice.   

The Synchronicity Portfolio is also supporting VOYAGE’s Green Careers Fair, which provides young people with the opportunity to learn about careers in the environmental sector, speak to different employers, and gain an understanding of different organisations and roles, the skills that are needed, progression opportunities and benefits.