When child and youth care worker Alex Marin describes the needs of some of her students attending Connex Alternative Secondary in Maple Ridge, she wants to emphasize who she is talking about.
“We are talking about kids here. Thirteen, 14, 15, 16-year-olds who have all the weight and problems of the world on them,” she explained.
Especially her students who are essentially homeless, living in unsafe conditions where there is a risk of being preyed upon by predators.
“Some kids are afraid to call it home as they are in unstable shelter — I wouldn’t call it houses or homes. Some of them are in SROs (single-room occupancy), are couch surfing, or going from one unsafe place to another, which can turn into exploitation because they are making a trade for shelter,” she said.
“So kids can get into some pretty awkward, unsafe situations.”
Those situations could involve being pressured into sexual exploitation or being expected to take part in gang or criminal activity.
“Our job is to help these kids find a safe place to stay and to find employment,” she said.
As for food, clothing and other necessities such as personal hygiene items, “They don’t have any of that.”
“Their clothes — they are wearing the same things — they are dirty. They don’t have anything for their hygiene.”
And lack of food is a major issue because they can be fed at school. But what happens when they leave?
To help these students — and others living at home whose families are without food or necessities at times during the month — Marin is seeking a $10,000 grant from The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund and its Adopt-A-School campaign.
This will provide food and necessities while students are in school or for when they leave at night and on weekends.
As an alternative school, Connex provides a different path for students to graduate from that offered by a standard high school, which would not have the resources these students need.
For those in unsafe living conditions, it’s no exaggeration to say that Marin and the rest of the staff at Connex are their last resort. There is nowhere else to go to find help.
For street-involved students, school attendance can be poor, but providing this help will encourage them to come to class, said Marin.
“If we can provide them with clean clothes or a bus ticket or a full stomach, they will have the brain power to answer a question during an interview. … There is nothing worse when they are trying to get a job and they haven’t showered because they don’t have shampoo or soap. They haven’t eaten because they don’t have food. No clean clothes, no bus ticket.
“We are trying to break down these barriers. It will be a huge help for them,” she said. “The (Adopt-A-School) funding will directly support students and their families providing access to essential resources to meet their basic needs.
“By providing food, hygiene supplies, emergency housing support, or other immediate, critical needs, the aim is to support vulnerable youth build safer, more stable futures.”
AAS25-1323
 |
Join the Vancouver Sun Children's Fund in supporting children and families in need throughout British Columbia. Our Adopt-a-School campaign has been providing vital support to those in need for more than a decade. Since 2011, the fund has provided more than $15 million to schools and community organizations that has supported tens of thousands of students each year. This year, the needs are greater than ever. Your donation, no matter how small, can make a significant difference because 100 per cent of your contribution goes directly to helping children in need. No administration fees are deducted from donations to Adopt-A-School. Our children are our future. Please donate today and invest in a brighter future for the most vulnerable among us. This year 164 schools are asking for $1.5 million to help provide children with food and necessities. |
