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Our Mission Statement
The One Life Project works to build and create a kinder world where we educate, advocate for, and support teens, college students, and young adults who are struggling with mental health in the hopes of preventing suicide in young people and ending the stigma that surrounds mental health.
Our Mission and Goals
The One Life Project is dedicated to empowering and uplifting teens and young adults through mental health education, advocacy, and support. Our mission is to break down barriers, challenge stigmas, and foster a culture where every young person feels seen, heard, and supported in their mental health journey. We strive to provide education, support, and an environment that equips youth with the knowledge and tools to navigate life's challenges, build resilience, and foster emotional well-being. Through dynamic advocacy initiatives, we aim to create systemic change, ensuring that mental health support is accessible, destigmatized, and integrated into every school and community in the country. The One Life Project is committed to cultivating a community where the power of kindness and compassion paves the way for a brighter future, one where every youth recognizes their intrinsic value and potential. Together, we advocate for a world where mental health is a priority, and every young person has the opportunity to thrive, despite their race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. ♡
About One Life Project
The One Life Project is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the entirety of the United States. Some of our online programs assist individuals even further than the United States. We currently have four offices on the east coast, with two more opening in the midwest in 2024.
The One Life Project was founded on February 14th, 2018 by Alexander Kovarovic. Alex is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer. In total, we are home to over 3,500 volunteers and employees in 29 states. Volunteers make up over 95% of the One Life Project.
On January 4th, 2021, the One Life Project launched our new motto: be true, be you, be kind. This motto represents our work toward a better world.
2023 has been the strongest year thus far with the most advancement. In 2023, The One Life Project opened our Executive Office in NYC, gained over 2,250 volunteers, launched over 150 partnerships, and was featured in over 50 news articles. Our staff and volunteers are highly dedicated in growing our mission so that we can support more and more teens and young adults each year.
How We Started
As a senior in high school, Alexander Kovarovic wanted to help others dealing with the things you struggled with growing up. Once he graduated, he started a nonprofit then called the National Youth Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Task Force, which focused on raising awareness for victims of bullying. The organization was run that way until 2020 when it took the new name, the One Life Project and created an entirely new mission of helping teens and young people with mental health. Our 'be true, be you, be kind' motto took form in 2021 and serves as a reminder to always be yourself while also being kind to others as kindness makes all the difference in our communities.
Importance of Our Mission
Youth mental health advocacy is of high importance as it addresses the unique challenges faced by the younger generation during a crucial period of development. Adolescence and young adulthood are transformative phases marked by significant emotional, social, and academic changes. Effective education, support, and advocacy ensures that the mental health needs of young individuals are not only acknowledged but prioritized. By promoting awareness, challenging stigmas, and advocating for accessible mental health resources, youth mental health advocacy fosters an environment where young people feel supported, understood, and empowered to seek help.
Mental health includes our social well-being as well as our psychological and emotional health. Our mental health affects how we think, how we act, our self esteem, how we view ourselves and others. Whether we are five years old, graduating high school, going through college, starting our first job, or retiring fifty years later, mental health is important and ignoring it can be detrimental to our overall well-being. Our social life is also heavily affected by our mental health.
The One Life Project's mission allows us to stand up for young people who are not yet strong enough to stand on their own. We work to educate, advocate for, and support them through some of the most difficult years of our lives.
Expanding Our National Reach
The One Life Project’s U.S. offices play a crucial role in expanding our mission across the nation, each strategically located to maximize our reach and impact. From our roots in Amsterdam, New York, to our regional offices in Pennsylvania, Florida, and beyond, these hubs serve as vital centers for community engagement and mental health advocacy. Our presence across the country allows us to connect with diverse communities, ensuring that our message of empowerment, resilience, and kindness reaches young people in every corner of the United States. The importance of our scope lies in our ability to tailor our programs and support to the unique needs of each region, fostering a culture of mental well-being that resonates locally while contributing to a broader, national movement. Through partnerships with local schools, universities, and community organizations, we actively engage with the communities we serve, creating lasting change by empowering individuals and breaking down the barriers that prevent open conversations about mental health. Our impact is measured not just in the number of lives we touch, but in the strength of the communities we help build—communities where every young person feels seen, heard, and supported.
Our International Footprint
Our expansion into Europe, marked by the establishment of offices in Sweden and Switzerland, represents a significant milestone in The One Life Project's journey toward becoming a global force for change in the realm of mental health. These offices are not just physical locations but are strategic centers that enable us to deepen our understanding of the diverse mental health challenges faced by young people across different European cultures. Sweden and Switzerland were carefully chosen for their unique positions within Europe, each offering distinct perspectives and opportunities to engage with youth in meaningful ways.
Moreover, our European offices play a pivotal role in advancing our international impact. As we grow globally, it is essential that we maintain a consistent and cohesive message while also adapting our initiatives to the unique contexts of each region we serve. The work done in our Swedish and Swiss offices will not only influence our European strategies but will also inform our global approach, ensuring that our mission to break down barriers, challenge stigmas, and support young people's mental health is carried out effectively across borders.