In February 2013, Rubin returned to Tanzania, and a month later he and Mwakapango founded RENEW as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. RENEW is a two-week program that empowers youth to create their own solutions to local problems; it is a way for students not only to transform themselves, but to also transform their communities.

“RENEW is built by young people, and it’s for young people,” Rubin says.

RENEW stands for the five principles of the nonprofit: reflect—students must be able to transform themselves before they can transform the world; educate— Rubin, Mwakapango and other RENEW partners teach students about their areas of expertise; nurture—RENEW fosters leadership and life skills of the students; empower—it gives students the power to be leaders in their community; and wear—building awareness, providing a fundraising tool, but most importantly giving students pride and ownership over their project.