FOCUS AREA: YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Free Hearts. Big Dreams. Hard Work.

Next Gen is the youth and young adults of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Rhode Island. Next Gen is making a difference in the community by putting their faith into action. Striving to make the next generation conscious of poverty and encourage them to take action.

Next Gen was created for those young people who wish to serve the poor in their communities in.  In 2015, a group of our young Vincentian volunteers got together and decided they wanted to make a difference – they named themselves Next GenAll youth and young adults ages 14-25 are encouraged to join us in our mission to become educated about and conscious of poverty. Members of Next Gen are welcome from various parishes and school communities from around the state of Rhode Island.

We believe in a world without poverty. Deeply rooted in Gospel values, the young people of Next Gen are dedicated to making the next generation conscious of poverty – financial, emotional, spiritual, or otherwise – both in our community and around the world. We strive to inspire the next generation to take action – however small – and help the alienated and neglected, regardless of their background.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

FAITH & FRIENDSHIP

POVERTY EDUCATION

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

DID YOU KNOW THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL WAS STARTED BY COLLEGE STUDENTS?

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was started in Paris, France in the year 1833 by a small group of college students. Challenged to show how they live their faith, they began gathering together to pray and serve their community.  Blessed Frederic Ozanam was only 20 years old when SVDP was founded. Nearly 200 years later,  you can join in their tradition.

What is a Poverty Simulation? 

It’s like the game of life. The experience is designed to help understand what it might be like to be a part of a typical low income family trying to survive from month-to-month. Each “Player” assumes the roles of different families living in poverty. The task of the families is to provide for basic necessities and shelter for one “month,” consisting of four fifteen-minute “weeks.” It can be an eye-opener to anyone who wishes to understand more about the realities of poverty. Understanding poverty can lead to initiating change towards ENDING POVERTY! 

LET US HOST ONE AT YOUR SCHOOL OR PARISH!

What is a Do Güd Day?

Join us for the perfect balance of fun and service. We are gathering young people from around the State to do gud! Do-güd-ers will be coming from all over Rhode Island, to compete as they help do various community service activities from sorting donations to making toiletry bags for our neighbors in need! Did we mention there is a trophy? This isn’t your average community service day!

The goal of this event is to Engage + Inspire + Increase the number of Young Volunteers. Participants will Learn + Serve + Reflect while building friendships through teamwork.

REGISTER AS A SCHOOL OR PARISH TEAM!

NextGen Video

Ending Childhood Poverty Through Art

Kat Brissette, a NextGen member and B.F.A. student at Rhode Island College, created a scaling billboard that climbed the main stairwell of Rhode Island College’s Alex & Ani Hall. The interactive project provided viewers the opportunity to take an active role in “tearing down child homelessness” by physically pulling images of children from the wall.  Each 4 square-inch image of a child included the SVDP NextGen web address printed on the back for people to make donations or get more information on child homelessness. Plans are being made to produce a traveling version of the project.