About Us

IYDE is developing effective and efficient programs and methods that help effect positive character change in youth, through mentoring, in communities across the country. We help communities overcome typical challenges faced with starting, developing and maintaining effective youth programs with a customized turn-key solution.

We combine the best of mentoring, character development and individual and group activities.  We build relevance in the lives of the youth through experiential learning and an understanding of the issues the youth face. Our methods include rigorous and continuous program and process evaluations.

Imam al-Ghazali on character:

"Character is an internal state, firmly rooted in the self. Actions stem from it with ease, without need for reflection and thought. So if that internal state is such that beautiful actions arise from it, then that internal state is described as good character. And if that internal state gives rise to ugly actions, then that internal state is referred to as bad character. We have said that it is a firmly rooted internal state because the one who gives in charity occasionally because of some external motivation cannot be described with the character trait of generosity as long as that quality is not firmly established internally. And we said that the actions must come forth with ease because the one who forces himself to spend in charity, or to be silent when angry cannot be described as having the character traits of generosity or forbearance."