The Parallel University Foundation
Empowering young people to become self-reliant by providing tools, resources and real life experience.
Disillusionment and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are at an all time high in young people today. We want to change that.
To achieve lasting change, we created the Youth Self-Reliance Project, a data driven, multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder approach. Underpinned by a Four Element Framework, the project focuses on helping young people set goals to bring about positive change and build a sense of purpose and direction in their lives.
Why does self-reliance matter so much?
The Parallel University Foundation is focused on building self-reliance in young people. But why is it such a crucial skill to develop?
Self-reliance is defined as the ability to depend on yourself or your own abilities.
Although self-reliance emphasises the importance of personal responsibility, self-discipline and the ability to be independent, it does not mean that this is done without input from other people.
Therefore, striving for self-reliance means that individuals not only take responsibility for their own lives by cultivating the necessary skills, knowledge and capabilities, but also become thriving members of an interconnected society.
The Parallel University Foundation started out as a book, a manual written by Richard Krohn for his grandchildren. Today, we have a much larger mission.
The Parallel University: The manual on how to create a balanced life and have it all
Richard Krohn has spent 40 years as a Director in SMEs, and 35 years managing an investment company alongside his wife. His interest in personal development, however, came from his time spent as a Lifeline phone councillor, his decade as Chairman of a non-profit remote residential aged care facility, and his own personal experiences.
He wrote The Parallel University as a resource manual for his grandchildren, and anyone wanting to be self-reliant.
The Youth Self-Reliance Project is a large-scale undertaking which will benefit from a variety of stakeholders, collaborators and investors. If you believe in providing young people with the tools to build a better future for themselves and the wider community, we would love to hear from you.