What We Do

Youth Speak Out International (YSO INT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving children and youth a voice through collaborative media production. As a result of our innovative, hands-on curricula, children develop media literacy, learn to manage their screen time, strengthen their communication and digital citizenship skills as they discover their life’s purpose.

Our Mission is to empower youth and families within culturally diverse communities to use their voice for global change by teaching media literacy, strengthening communication skills, fostering face-to-face collaboration, and providing a platform for the creative use and effective management of screen technology. We envision a world in which empowered youth with strong human connections live with purpose to build a vibrant global community.

Founded in 2008 by CEO/Executive Director, William King, YSO INT was created to address the need for media education for youth and families impacted by media messages. YSO INT operates at the community level, working with afterschool programs, schools, families, and youth to foster lasting change. Our trained facilitators have educated more than 15,150 multicultural students in South Florida, Belize, Jamaica, and Costa Rica, giving priority to after-school programs serving low-income families and underserved youth.

By helping youth think critically about media content, YSO INT promotes tolerance, safety, and respect for others. This forms the groundwork for youth to create new media content aimed at producing positive change in their local and global communities. Youth learn script writing, storyboarding, and filming techniques to create videos that educate the public.

Our programs promote self-exploration, public speaking, and other life skills essential for job readiness. YSO INT’s most recent initiative, Today’s Digital Citizens™, helps children develop skills to manage their use of screen devices, as they learn to implement media literacy, privacy and reputation, online security safety, cyber bullying and mental well-being. By teaching youth creative uses of screen technologies and, at the same time, encouraging parents to become media mentors, Today’s Digital Citizens™ improves how screen technologies impact children and families.

YSO INT’s unique approach combining media literacy with media production empowers youth to share their voices and form stronger, face-to-face connections with others. In addition to inspiring positive change in their communities, these opportunities to discover and share their voice have changed the lives of today’s youth.