Refugee Youth Literacy Services

Mission Statement

We are guided by a steadfast commitment to the alleviation of the plight of the underprivileged child, especially refugees. The youth/children displaced by conflict and persecution will be empowered through our holistic tutoring programs, which include addressing immediate literacy and STEM needs, building resilience, and setting them up for a more promising future. We believe in the power of education to knock down barriers. In so doing, we are creating an opportunity for them to go on for further education, which is a great benefit to the refugee youth at large.

Vision Statement

We envision a future where the spirit of all people deprived of their right to education, particularly refugees, is ignited, and their potential is fully realized. Our vision is of a world where all children are given the proper right to education, where they can excel in Literacy and STEM fields.

Key Elements of Our Vision

1.  Dignity and Equality: We see a world where every person, regardless of their background or displacement, is treated with dignity and experiences a life of equality.
2. Educational Empowerment: Our vision includes a global landscape where education is a catalyst for positive transformation, enabling individuals to break free from the chains of poverty and ignorance.
3. Thriving Communities: We aspire to contribute to the creation of thriving communities where underprivileged individuals, especially refugees, are not only recipients of aid but active contributors to the social, cultural, and economic growth of their societies.

Opportunity for All: Our vision is stemmed in the belief that every individual should have equitable access to opportunities, allowing them to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the world.

Bylaws

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be Refugee Youth Literacy Services.

Article II: Mission and Vision 

Section 1: Mission

The mission of RYLS (Refugee Youth Literacy Services) is to alleviate the hardships faced by underprivileged children, with a specific focus on refugees. The organization is committed to empowering displaced youth through literacy and STEM programs aided by new age technologies  that address immediate needs and pave the way for a brighter future.

Section 2: Vision

The vision of RYLS is of a world where no one is held back by their situation, where individuals overcome adversity, flourish with dignity, spirit, and a sense of belonging. We look to expand globally to address the needs of all refugee youths.

Article III: Membership

Membership in [Your Non-Profit Organization] is open to individuals 18 years or younger who support its mission. Members shall have the right to participate in meetings and activities of the organization.

Section 1: The Executive Committee, and others

• Consists of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer
• Committee members

Section 2: Membership credo

• Any individual choosing to volunteer as part of this organization is strictly a volunteer
• No member shall receive financial value personally
• No individual should work in the act of self interest

Section 3: Immoral conduct

• Activities going against the membership guidelines that founded this organization
• Representing another organization while actively participating in Sacramento Youth Refugee Association
• Not participating actively in the group

Section 4: Individual revocation

• Any member acting against this credo will have their membership revoked if conduct has occurred more than 3 times
• First instance of immoral conduct will result in a warning
• Second instance of immoral conduct will result in 1 month suspension
• Third instance of immoral conduct will result in a permanent expulsion

Article IV: Executive Committee

Section 1: Composition

The Executive Committee consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. The individuals along with the rest of members are to actively participate to accomplish the goals of this organization.

Section 2: Responsibilities

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for overseeing the affairs of the organization, including strategic planning, financial oversight, and the appointment of key officers. Efforts shall be made to ensure diverse representation on the Board, reflecting the communities served. Each member will have a distinguished role, however aimed at a common goal.

• President – The President’s role is to facilitate the meetings and is to represent the organization, and be the chief executive, being the spokesperson.
• Vice President – The Vice President’s role is to collaborate with the president, sees that the president’s wishes are passed as wished, and to assume leadership under the absence of the president
• Secretary – The Secretary’s role is to keep record of the meetings held within the organization, and assume responsibility of execute all the wishes made as a group by the executive committee.
• Treasurer – The Treasurer’s role is to keep record and maintain the safekeeping of all the funds distributed to the organization

Article V: Policies

Section 1: Meetings

Meetings are to be held once every two weeks between the executive committee. Discussions will include productivity of organization, potential changes, beneficial ideas, etc. All meetings are to be recorded and noted by the secretary.

• Final decisions are made by a majority vote, and ultimate voice if idea is wished to be implemented is officially justified by the president.
• Every decision is to be taken account into
• Special meetings can be called by the president or the vice president if they feel that there is a certain issue to be discussed [ie: Financial arguments, member disputes, etc]
• Membership meetings to occur biweekly to discuss new ideas and upcoming projects for the organization

Section 2: Rotations

• All roles of the executive committee are to be rotated annually. For example, after one year, the president must step down from their position, and someone else is to assume the title
• However, all elections are justified from the members of the organization. If the majority of the members believe that the president should stay as president, they are to keep their title, until members feel that that individual is not fit as a president.
• Specifically in the case for president, the prerequisite to assume this position is to be a member for at least 2 years, and have actively contributed in the growth of this organization.

Rotations of positions are to ensure that no one individual assumes too much power, and that new ideas flow within the organization.

Article VI: Location 

Section 1: Location

The official headquarters of the organization is to be in the Sacramento area. While the plan is to spread across the whole Sacramento region, the original location is to be in Folsom, and there is no permanent location

Article VII: Finances

Section 1: Budget

The Board of Directors shall approve an annual budget and ensure sound financial management. Transparency in financial matters shall be prioritized. Budget is to be determined by the executive committee and officially recorded by the treasurer.

Section 2: Funds

Funds are to be strictly for the purposes of the organization. All funds received from other organizations are to be used and to supply the refugees with items such as food and devices to help with improving their literacy.

Article IX: Dissolution

Section 1: Action Procedure

In the event of the dissolution, all members of Sacramento Literacy Refugee Association are to be informed. A meeting held by the Executive Committee is to be held, giving all members at least 2 weeks of a notice prior.

• In this case, all members are allowed to attend the meeting, and ¾ of the members present in the meeting must agree that the organizations is to be dissolved 

Section 2: Financial Procedures

In the event that the organization is to be dissolved, all funds provided to the organization are to be distributed to local food banks and orphanages that offer shelter to refugees.