How one phone sparked a movement: The Journey of Youth.aim

It was like a punch to the gut. I thought about my own situation. Sure, I’d been frustrated with slow Wi-Fi, like most of us were, but in reality, I had everything I needed and more. And then I remembered something—I had this old phone sitting in a drawer. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it worked. It could easily be enough to help someone, even just one kid, stay connected and keep up with school. So, I decided to give it away.

I didn’t expect anything to come of it. It was a simple act—a small thing, really—but it snowballed in a way I never imagined. I told a few friends about what I’d done, and before I knew it, people were reaching out to me, asking if they could help too. They wanted to donate their old devices or contribute in some way. Suddenly, this little idea I had was turning into something much bigger. I found myself organizing an entire initiative, coordinating donations, working out logistics, researching affordable phones, and trying to make sure every single contribution made a difference.

What really amazed me was how quickly a community formed around this effort. Friends started jumping in, offering their time, skills, and resources to help keep things running smoothly. We decided to call ourselves Youth.aim. I know, it sounds a bit cheesy, but it captured what we were about—young people, aiming to make a difference. It wasn’t just about handing out phones. We wanted to make sure that every child who needed access to education could get it, and that meant thinking about the bigger picture.