Our Story

A computer with a digital graph displayed on the screen, showing an upward trend. There are some office supplies like a pen and a notebook nearby.

iFLY Youth is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded on the belief that every girl deserves the opportunity to see the world—and to see herself as a leader within it. Through our flagship program, Camp iFLY, girls engage in cultural research, language learning, storytelling, journaling, leadership development, and international travel. Since our founding, 81 girls have received their passports and traveled internationally with iFLY Youth, gaining experiences that broaden their worldview and strengthen their leadership.

Check Out Camp iFLY

Our Values

Every journey begins with a foundation. For iFLY Youth, our values are the compass that guides our work—shaping how we build community, create transformative experiences, and invest in the next generation of leaders. Through belonging, exploration, leadership, and liberation, we help girls expand their worlds and discover the power they hold to shape their futures.

Belonging

Every girl deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued. We create a joyful sisterhood where girls of color can show up as their authentic selves.

A woman and a young girl hugging outdoors with green foliage in the background, both smiling.

Exploration

Group of children and teenagers standing in front of a monument with a plaque, celebrating the 150th anniversary of China's presence in Panama, with trees and mountains in the background.

We inspire girls to explore their passions, challenge limits, and discover what's possible through curiosity, creativity, and new experiences.

Leadership

Two young girls standing inside a church with an ornate gold altar in the background. One girl in a black outfit is raising her right hand and smiling, the other in a white t-shirt and denim shorts is slightly smiling and holding a phone and a pink item. They are behind a wooden railing with a plaque, and a lace-covered table is in front of them.

Our girls are leaders today. We equip them with confidence, tools, and community to use their voices and shape the world around them.

Liberation

Ten women standing outdoors with arms around each other's shoulders, facing a cityscape and hill in the distance under a blue sky.

We empower girls of color with confidence and opportunity to explore the world, build community, and shape their future.

Yellow outline of a postage stamp with a dotted border. Inside, a yellow airplane icon in mid-flight and the word "TRAVEL" in yellow capital letters.

Meet Our Team

iFLY Youth is led by a dedicated team of staff, board members, and program facilitators who work collaboratively and intentionally to design and implement programming that advances our mission of developing middle school girls of color into global leaders through international travel and community building. Our team has a broad range of professional expertise in fields such as education, law, accounting, nonprofit management, and foreign service.

Founder’s Vision

Grounded in the belief that exposure shapes opportunity, Cidney(King) Farley created iFLY Youth to ensure that girls of color have access to the experiences, mentorship, and support needed to see themselves as leaders and imagine new possibilities for their futures.

With more than a decade of experience working alongside young people and communities, Cidney has dedicated her career to addressing opportunity gaps and creating pathways for students of color to thrive. Her commitment to this work began in the classroom as a Teach For America Corps member, where she taught middle school English in Houston, Texas, and later continued in Abu Dhabi, where she mentored students as a sixth-grade math teacher.

After living abroad and traveling to nearly 15 countries, Cidney experienced how cultural immersion and global connection can challenge perspectives, build empathy, and expand one’s vision for what is possible. Recognizing that many girls of color lacked access to similar opportunities, she founded iFLY Youth to bridge the experience gap and create intentional spaces where girls can explore their identities, connect across cultures, and develop the skills to lead.

Today, Cidney remains deeply committed to investing in the next generation of leaders. Through iFLY Youth, she continues to build a community where girls are not only invited to see the world—they are empowered to shape it.

A confident woman with braided hair wearing a black blazer over a graphic t-shirt, standing with crossed arms outside against a dark wall, smiling with red lipstick.

Cidney Farley

Woman smiling while walking on a suspension bridge in a forest, wearing a blue safety helmet and harness, with other people behind her also wearing helmets, participating in outdoor adventure activity.

“My daughter has displayed so much confidence post camp. She transitioned to a new school this year and was excited to do so. She’s a lot more bold in expressing herself and interacting with others in new environments. She’s also been bitten by the travel bug and ready to explore more of the world!"

Brown quotation marks on a white background

— Lynee M., Parent