Project Me Foundation Inc.
MASTER SELF • SERVE THE WORLD • LEAD THE FUTURE
MASTER SELF • SERVE THE WORLD • LEAD THE FUTURE
Helping young people put in the work and build a steadier future.
Honest support that points toward a real next step.
Project Me Foundation Inc. works with young people ages 13 to 24 who are leaving foster care or dealing with court and justice-system involvement. We also support young adults trying to find steady ground without much help around them.
A closed case does not mean the hard part is over. We stay in the picture.
We bring honest guidance and firm expectations. Most importantly, we keep showing up while each young person learns to do the same for themselves.
Written by Project Me Foundation founder Christopher D. Naraine-El, this book is honest about survival and what follows bad choices. It also shows the work it takes to turn around. That same belief runs through the foundation: people can change, but change takes discipline and a reason to keep moving.
100% of proceeds from the book go toward Project Me Foundation Inc. nonprofit operating costs.
View the Book on Amazon
Mohawk Valley Gives 2026
Early giving opens Sept. 14 • Giving day is Sept. 18
Mohawk Valley Gives brings the region together behind local nonprofits. Donations help cover mentoring and outreach, along with supplies, transportation, community events, and the everyday follow-through young people count on.
Your support helps us stay ready when a young person needs someone dependable.
Too many young people are told to “figure it out” before anyone has helped them build a workable routine or the skills to manage it. We do not believe that should be the end of their story.
We do more than encourage. We teach practical skills and set clear expectations. Participants learn to keep promises to themselves and other people.
Young people are not problems to manage. They have ability and choices ahead of them, even after setbacks. We challenge them and stand behind them as they keep working.
Reliable routines and clear boundaries that make life feel less chaotic.
Hands-on learning that carries into daily life and eventually into the workplace.
A clearer next step and the discipline to keep going after it.
Finishing a program is not the finish line. We want young people to leave more dependable and ready for whatever comes next.
Core Programs
A step-by-step path that starts with stability and leads toward real ownership of the future.
Special Programs
Creative work and physical training where effort earns trust and opportunity.
Community Support
Local people and organizations who can open doors and help young people stay on track.
According to a December 2025 report by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, arrests for Serious Violent Felony Offenses (SVFOs) by youth under 18 increased from 9.8% of the total in 2018 to 15.6% in 2024, with a further jump to 23.3% mid-year in 2025.
The report covers New York City, but the warning is familiar across the state: too many young people are reaching crisis before steady support reaches them.
Specific age cohorts within this New York City data show significant increases in SVFO arrests between 2018 and 2024:
Arrests up among 13–15 year-olds
Arrests up among 16–17 year-olds
Arrests up among 18–19 year-olds
Point increase in under-18 share of Serious VFO arrests
We want young people to have better choices before crisis starts to feel normal. That takes firm structure and useful skills, backed by adults who do not disappear when progress gets hard.
We want young people to leave with more than a completed program. They should know how to recover from a setback and keep their word, even when quitting would be easier.
Project Me Foundation Inc. is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all individuals. In accordance with federal civil rights laws, the New York State Human Rights Law, and IRS regulations governing 501(c)(3) organizations, we do not discriminate in our programs, services, employment, or volunteer opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, arrest or conviction record, domestic violence victim status, or any other status protected by law.
We are dedicated to equal access and reasonable accommodations while maintaining a harassment-free environment. Our programs and services are open to the public and administered in a nondiscriminatory manner consistent with IRS public-benefit requirements. For accommodation requests or to report a concern, please use the contact info below.