Purposeful Youth Network (PYN) is a youth development and leadership organization committed to helping young people develop the character, purpose, capacity and practical skills necessary to navigate life responsibly and become effective leaders.
To develop a generation of purpose-driven, principled and capable young people equipped to provide responsible leadership and create meaningful impact in society.
To equip and develop young people through mentorship, coaching, leadership development, character formation and practical skills training, preparing them for purposeful living, responsible leadership and meaningful contribution to society.
Five questions every young person walks through.
Elaine Lorraine Kinnie is a Christ-centered youth development advocate passionate about the intentional development of young people. Her work focuses on helping young people develop character, discover purpose, build capacity, and prepare for meaningful leadership and influence.
Through Purposeful Youth Network, she is committed to creating an environment where young people and students are developed from the inside out, guided by positive values and principles. She believes that before a person can effectively carry a position, the person must first be built.
Purposeful Youth Network was born out of a deep concern about the kind of people who are rising into positions of influence and leadership. As I looked around, I noticed that many people were occupying positions without necessarily having the character required to lead well. I also saw how easily young people can become attracted to positions because of the power, recognition, or influence that comes with them.
And it made me realize something: if we want to see change at the top, we cannot simply wait for the people at the top to change. We have to intentionally prepare the people who are coming next. While we are working to address the problems we see today, we can also train and develop the next generation so that, when they eventually step into positions of influence, they do not simply inherit the same attitudes, behaviours, and systems we are trying to change.
That is where Purposeful Youth Network was born, from a desire to build people before they occupy positions, and to see a generation of men and women who lead with character, clarity, discipline, and purpose. It is ultimately a desire to see people become the kind of leaders who can be trusted with influence.
Elaine holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and French, an academic background that has strengthened her understanding of leadership, governance, society and human development. She has mentored numerous young people, including a group of 20 students who completed secondary school in 2026 and transitioned into university, helping them think intentionally about purpose, personal development, discipline and leadership. She is also a certified graduate of the Strategic Edge Mentorship Program.
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