The United Youth Empowerment Services (UYES) was established on April 18, 2016, by four young individuals who had experienced displacement as refugees. These founders, hailing from Southern Somalia and resettled through the Kenyan Refugee Camp, Dadaab, to Lewiston, Maine in 2005, recognized the pressing needs of their community. Driven by their knowledge and passion, they devoted themselves to creating educational films and volunteering to uplift their people.

 

Having grown up together in Lewiston, the founders pursued education, established careers, started families, and honed their leadership skills, becoming pillars of the community. Since 2015, UYES has produced films and documentaries aimed at inspiring positive choices and skills development among refugee youth. The overarching goal is to empower immigrant youth and their families, highlighting the positive transformations within the community.

 

In 2022, UYES expanded its focus to encompass comprehensive youth development programming with an emphasis on recreation. One of the organization's notable initiatives was the collaboration with other organizations to organize a large-scale soccer tournament in Lewiston-Auburn during the summer of 2023. This successful event showcased the abundant passion and talent of local immigrant and refugee youth. Additionally, in the fall of 2023, UYES hosted a basketball tournament for high school-age youth and young adults, furthering its impact.

 

Despite its successes, UYES has encountered obstacles such as limited access to facilities, inadequate transportation for participants, and challenges in navigating municipal systems. These barriers have impeded the organization's efforts to create more opportunities for low-income New Mainers. UYES remains committed to overcoming these challenges to better serve its community.

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