South Side High School students launch Generation Motivation nonprofit

South Side High School junior Sean Clairine is the founder and president of Generation Motivation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income children in the Long Island and New York City area with opportunities to pursue their interests.

Generation Motivation helps by providing financial and emotional resources that promote opportunities for success. The organization offers a variety of services and programs for at-risk youth and provides research articles, guides, and resources to encourage them against participating in illicit activities.

Clairine said his inspiration came during his sophomore year, while he was dedicating his time to doing research.

“I started Generation Motivation because I noticed a trend in my community, and in general among low-income youth in underperforming and underprivileged areas,” Clairine said in an email.

Through his research, he dived into the connections between crime and low-income youth, finding the two were linked both statistically and based on his observations on social media.

“I did more research and concluded that sources also connected that without structured activities, youth are more at risk to make negative decisions,” he said. “That being home, or having too much freedom in these environments where criminal activity is more prone to happen, encourages the opportunity of making negative relationships or being dragged into a life of criminal activity.”

Through his research, he had come across a message on TikTok from a teenager doing a “money-spread,” which is an act of flaunting a large number of bills on social media. The caption he saw on TikTok read, “This lifestyle at 15 is amazing.”

Clairine said that he first saw the video in 2021 when he was 15 and decided to look through the comments, where the teenager was promoting to help others partake in scamming others, which was how he acquired such a large some of money.

He said that in the comments he noticed several teens reaching out and realized that many of those who replied were low-income youths who were looking for a way to a better financial situation.

“Personally, coming from a Haitian immigrant household, crime was looked down upon and my parents always instilled the message of ethical, hard work,” he said. “That is why I created Generation Motivation. Pursuing your favorite activities or interest, whether that’s a sport or music, should not be a financial stress.”

He said participating in these types of structured activities isn’t easy considering the costs of registration, equipment, and travel expenses, even for a child whose parent has the ability to take off from work to accommodate these extracurriculars.

Clairine also said that with Generation Motivation he wants to instill the message that “You can be somebody too.” He feels that everyone has the right to dream, and everyone has the right to make his or her dreams a reality.

In general, the mission of Generation Motivation is to help. “I want to help the dreamers like myself. I want the change the stigma of low-income youth. I want everyone to know, we can be somebody too,” he said.

Generation Motivation plans to do more than just provide scholarships for youth to participate in their activities. Clairine has developed multiple services that combat different issues low-income youth may encounter, such as Generation Connect, a future social platform that will provide chat rooms for youth to meet with each other virtually, and form safe, healthy friendships. It will also offer mental health resources to low-income youths who need access to them.

Generation Engage is another service that they hope to provide, which tackles more physical aspects and stresses community engagement among adults, businesses, and the influences that affect them. 

Generation Education provides a series of resources that offer information regarding plans post-high school. These include advice for secondary education, trades, or even certifications. It’s main purpose is to help youth with understanding that there are alternatives to traditional four-year college degrees, and that there are plenty of healthy lifestyles that can provide financial independence and growth.

Clairine knows the challenges of being a youth, and how hard it is to feel like you don’t fit in with friends who have the luxuries or advantages of living a privileged life. He said it’s enough to make someone feel like transferring to another school. However, he said that he decided to stay. “Instead of abandoning your community you can always bring change to it and the way you approach it.”

“I think Rockville Centre has a happy median though. I wouldn’t say everyone is a millionaire, and a lot of my friends have been really humble and accepting,” he said. “I’ve grown to love the presence of those with it all, rather than envy.” 

He said that if anything he thinks being among people who have access to a good education and wealth can be very inspiring for someone like himself.

“Over the years, I have picked up so much information,” he said. “It’s great to have friends with parents who can fill that gap in knowledge, even beyond college and into the different careers the world has to offer.”

Starting the nonprofit was no easy task.

“I actually will tell people my age, not to do it.” He added that owning a business while completing his junior year could be extremely taxing on his mental health at times, but well worth it in the end.

His nonprofit focuses strictly on Long Island and NYC youths as of now. “There is so much economic diversity here, from the very rich to very poor communities. There is difference to be made, right here in our backyard.”

Thanks to the help of 12 friends, family members, and the community, he has been able to run Generation Motivation and hopes to make a difference in the community.

Generation Motivation is currently accepting donations. So far, the organization has raised $315 in 2023 with a goal of reaching $2,000. For more about this local nonprofit or ways to donate or participate in their efforts, email info@GMotive.org or visit their website at GMotive.org.