Helping youth reach their goals 2019/20 Annual Report

Helping youth achieve their full potential means a brighter, better future for everyone. By valuing all young people’s unique attributes and perspectives, we can more effectively address the issues facing our communities and celebrate our collective and individual strengths and contributions. Supporting the vital role youth who have been in BC government care or in the care […]

Strength and perseverance key to success

Nat has a passion for health and fitness, weightlifting in particular. He can deadlift over 400 pounds! “It’s just another way for me to test my strength and my limits,” Nat says. Much of Nat’s life has been about strength and perseverance. Several years ago, Nat faced his mother’s abrupt hospitalization, an event leading him to be […]

A passion for education and life helps build art therapy career

Twenty-seven-year-old Sage is a Ceramics student at Selkirk College’s Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson in Southeastern BC. As a former youth in care, she held off pursuing post-secondary education for many years.  “When it came to college and university, I kind of freaked out. School is so expensive, it didn’t seem like a realistic option for me,” she says. Along with […]

On track for success – United Way invests unprecedented $350K to support youth

Nineteen-year-old Jodi loves school. She’s learning new things, meeting new people and planning for a bright future as she pursues her degree through the Child and Youth Care program at Douglas College in New Westminster. It was something that was almost unimaginable for her as a child. “I knew when we had no food. I […]

Emergency funding helps former foster children stay in school during COVID-19

When Emilianna’s roommate moved out during COVID-19, she was left to cover the full cost of her rent. The comedy club she worked at also closed at the same time. As a former youth in government care who is now studying Social Work at Douglas College, Emilianna doesn’t have the safety net of her parents […]

Help for young adults on AYA during COVID-19

The Ministry of Children and Family Development has developed emergency measures regarding the 48-month time limit on the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) Program. The intention of these measures is to prevent young adults currently on AYA from having to draw down from their 48-month time limit of AYA support due to any program interruptions […]