Our Story
A stronger foundation for youth
We’ve been a guiding force for over two decades, helping thousands of young people transcend negative stereotypes, actively contributing to their development. From the outset we’ve been a steadfast presence, influencing crucial phases in the lives of young people.
After creating the successful black artists’ development programme for UK schools and prisons, Evwreni Productions, Odiri Ighamre and Paul Aiken founded KORI in 2002.
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In our early days, we mostly responded to the urgent needs of young African and Caribbean people in the London borough of Haringey, who felt that they lacked a sense of ‘being held’ by their community. The community faced high exclusions from schools, increasing youth violence, and high pregnancy rates. Many of these young people had very narrow life experiences
Our response was a range of long-term projects with youth work practice and creativity at the core. From these, we developed the programmes we offer today.
Why we are needed
We are a youth-centred foundation established in London in 2002 and developed by African and Caribbean community artists over the past two decades. We are engaged in supporting hundreds of young people with vulnerabilities in their backgrounds that pose a threat to their futures.
Educational and employment opportunities are not universally accessible. Inequality persists, hindering the potential of countless young minds. As a means of bridging the inequality gap, we strive to break down these barriers, offering educational resources and mentorship programmes to young people from predominantly black and minority-ethnic communities aged 11-25 years. Our programmes empower youth with the tools to navigate life’s challenges, fostering resilience and well-being.
What are some of the challenges impacting the young people we work with?
- Low access to services
- Intergenerational trauma
- Inequality in all its forms
- Disproportionate equity
- Post pandemic legacy
- Hyper (in)visibility
- Low socio-economic backgrounds
In response to such challenges, KORI offers in-house counselling for 18+ used by both young people and parents. Our work is driven by a passion for empowering the next generation. By addressing the barriers that young people face head-on, we strive to create a world where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
