Covenant House Vancouver

 🩺 All for Health, Health for All. ⚕ That was the theme at this year’s meeting of the World Health Assembly. 🤝 Deb Lester, CEO of Covenant House Vancouver, attended this year’s assembly, whose focus this year was on adolescent and youth health. It is estimated that 1.8 million young people, age 10–24, globally, do not have their health needs met. 🤯 The reality is that it takes all of us to come together, united in our common goals, to bring much needed change — think global, act local. 🌐 In a letter to the CHV team, Deb shared, “Coming together, we can learn from each other, and we can increase our impact, globally, by advocating and informing policy and uniting for change.” Read more about Deb’s experiences, the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the importance of working together as a global community, here 👉: https://lnkd.in/gQnrGSSk. Covenant House International World Health Organization Devora Kestel Leigh Chapman Deb Lester PMNCH #WHA #Youth #GlobalCommunity #health #mentalhealth #CovenantHouseVancouver

Happy International Self-Care Day 🤌🏽 At Covenant House Vancouver, we believe in the transformative power of self-care, not only for the youth we serve but also for our dedicated employees. Self-care is essential for physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and it helps us all perform at our best. Why Self-Care Matters for Youth 👇🏽: 🧠 Mental Health: Mindfulness and therapy help manage stress and build resilience. 🍎 Physical Health: Nutritious food, safe shelter, and healthcare are crucial. 💪 Self-Esteem: Simple acts like grooming and engaging in hobbies boost confidence. How We Support Self-Care for Youth 👇🏽: 🏠 Safe Environment: A welcoming space for youth to feel secure. 🗣️ Counselling: Access to mental health support. 📚 Life Skills: Workshops on nutrition, budgeting, and personal development. 🤝 Community: Group activities and peer support for a sense of belonging. Learn about importance of self-care for the youth in our programs: https://lnkd.in/gcHYebWr Self-Care for Our Employees: Self-care is just as important for our staff as it is for the youth we support. Taking time to recharge, set boundaries, and practice wellness routines helps us stay energized and motivated. It enables us to provide the best care and support for our community. Here are some tips our staff shared on how they take care of themselves 👇🏼 📝 Journalling and naming the feelings you are currently experiencing. 🛑 Silencing your inner critic. 🌬️ Mindful breathing — breathing in positive energy and breathing out toxic energy. 🐶 Decompressing with pets. ❤️ Treating yourself with the same compassion and kindness that you would offer a friend. Today, on International Self-Care Day, let's celebrate the importance of self-care for everyone. Share your favourite self-care practices below 👇🏼 and let’s support each other in prioritizing well-being. #InternationalSelfCareDay #SelfCare #MentalHealth #HomelessYouth #CovenantHouseVancouver #SupportYouth #CommunityCare #EmployeeWellness

🎉We are celebrating Pride all summer long! 🏳️🌈 Pride is a chance to celebrate the 2SLGBTQAI community and acknowledge their strengths, their talents, and their contributions to society. 🙏 But it’s more than just a celebration. Lisa, Social Worker in the Rights of Passage program at CHV, and ally of the 2SLGBTQAI community, had this to say: “Pride provides a voice for the 2SLGBTQAI community, as there is much more work that needs to be done to help its members thrive.” 📣 We see you, and you matter! Learn more about the importance of Pride and about being an ally, in the latest edition of our blog 👉: https://lnkd.in/gsdMCBcu. #Pride #celebrate #LGBTQI #Youth #Advocacy #CovenantHouseVancouver

🏳️🌈Pride with Purpose event! 🏳️🌈 Join Contemporary Office Interiors Ltd. and MillerKnoll for a Pride-themed event that supports Covenant House Vancouver. The event will feature a silent auction and drag queen bingo with proceeds going to support CHV and the youth we serve. ❤ 📅The event takes place on Thursday, August 1st. Together, we can create a more inclusive and safe community where all youth can thrive. 🎉 🎫Tickets are free but limited. Learn more and reserve your ticket here👉: https://lnkd.in/drbuMXUG. We hope to see you there! #millerknollpride #pridewithpurpose #youth #community #CovenantHouseVancouver 

Today marks the official opening of the newly renovated building that is home to CHV’s Rights of Passage program! The Rights of Passage program provides youth with safe, affordable, transitional housing, guidance, structure, and support to prepare them for living out in the community and achieving their educational and employment goals. To mark this auspicious day, Covenant House Vancouver hosted a press conference that was attended by many of the city’s dignitaries, including: Hon. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver South; Brenda Bailey, Member of the Legislature for Vancouver-False Creek; and Sarah Kirby-Yung, MBA, City of Vancouver. Chelsea Minhas, Chief Program and Impact Officer at CHV, said, “Rooted in best practices, our homes let young people know that we see them, that they matter, and that they are worth it.” Covenant House Vancouver would like to thank all those that attended today’s exciting event, including our CEO Deb Lester, BC Housing and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Société canadienne d'hypothèques et de logement(SCHL), along with the federal and provincial governments, and the City of Vancouver for making this renovation a reality and for their efforts in supporting vulnerable youth in the community. Learn more about today’s event and the Rights of Passage program, here: https://lnkd.in/gyKmRrX7.

💖Thank you, Scotia Bank! 💖 Scotiabank has been a supporter of Covenant House for over 12 years! Their support includes being a part of our expansion project that resulted in our amazing facility at 1280 Seymour Street, and being donors for our fall of 2022 Triple Match Campaign. 🎉 Recently, a team from Scotiabank came to Covenant House to handwrite personal notes of thanks to donors, and prepare sunscreen packages for our front desk and Outreach teams to hand out to youth. 🤝 Hang Zhou, Branch Manager at Scotiabank, commented on her team’s experience at Covenant House: “Thanks to you and your team, I have learnt so much in such a short period of time, and I salute you for the great work that you and your team are carrying out every day. As a people manager who is an out and proud queer, what you do is so dear and close to my heart, and I’d love to contribute whatever I can to make your organization better and stronger.” From everyone at Covenant House Vancouver, thank you so much, Scotiabank, for your continued support! 🙏 #scotiabank #ThankYou #Youth #support #CovenantHouseVancouver

🍽️ Team lunch anyone? Join Us for Nando's Mandela Day Dash on July 18, 2024 We are excited to be working with Nando's (Davie and Howe location) for the annual Mandela Day Dash tomorrow, July 18, 2024, from 11am to 1pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to support Covenant House Vancouver and make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable youth. How You Can Help: 👉 Bring nonperishable food or cash donations to Nando's at Davie and Howe, and receive a free 1/4 chicken as a thank you. Your donations will directly support Covenant House Vancouver, and will help provide essential services to youth experiencing homelessness or at risk of human trafficking. A Special Thank You: 🙏 We extend our gratitude to Nando's for their incredible support and to Nando's Davie and Howe location for hosting this impactful event. Your dedication to community service is truly commendable. ❤️ Thank you to our community for your ongoing support. Together, we can make a significant difference and create brighter futures for the youth we serve. #MandelaDayDash #CommunitySupport #CovenantHouseVancouver #NandosCanada #YouthSupport #GiveBack #NonProfit

Covenant House Vancouver will not look away.   It is in times like that that we cannot stay silent, and we must lock arms in our shared vision of creating healthy communities where all children and youth are able to grow and thrive in a good way. Colby, and all of the 6,437 cases of injuries and death of children in government care or receiving reviewable services, that the office of the representative reviewed in 2023/24, matter. As Dr. Charlesworth stated we, “can't go in to our corners”, we must come together and work together in order to create the changes these children and families deserve. As Minister Lore stated, “ all children deserve safety, belonging, and love”. Covenant House Vancouver believes that all young people matter, that an investment in youth is an investment in community.  We are steadfast in our commitment to walking alongside all levels of government, Indigenous leadership, corporate partners, service providers, and people with lived and living expertise, to create the path forward. Our children, our youth, and our future generations are depending on us. Together, we can get this right.   To find our more about the recommendations, you can read the full report here👉:https://lnkd.in/gtsMKPby.

🌈 At Covenant House Vancouver, we are deeply committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all young individuals, and that includes 2SLGBTQAI youth . Our latest video beautifully captures our dedication to diversity and inclusion within our community. Watch the video below 👇🏼. Through our programs and services, we provide more than just shelter; we offer safe spaces where 2SLGBTQAI youth can be themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination. Our specialized counselling services address the challenges that these young people face, including mental health issues and family rejection. Advocacy is a core part of our mission. We actively participate in community events, collaborate with local organizations, and raise awareness about the issues affecting 2SLGBTQAI youth. By amplifying their voices and advocating for their rights, we strive to create a society where everyone can thrive regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Join us in celebrating diversity and support of 2SLGBTQAI youth. Together, we can build a more inclusive world where everyone feels valued and respected. #Equality #CovenantHouseVancouver #YouthEmpowerment #Inclusive #Pride #LGBTQIA #QueerYouth

Today is World Youth Skills Day. A couple of life skills coordinators were kind enough to take some time out of their busy schedules to share a little bit about what’s going on in program around life skills. Kiera, from the Rights of Passage program: “I would say that so much of what we need to do, especially in Rights of Passage, is to very slowly build relationships, so that youth feel comfortable to let us know what they don't know. I think that creating those connections is, in of itself, a life skill.” Desiree: “Whether it’s through navigating systems, or communications with landlords, service providers, or the government, youth have learned how to communicate professionally and assertively, while still sounding like themselves. They tell me that they don’t realize what they’ve learned until the first time that they write an email without me there.” Learn more about the importance and impact of learning life skills on today’s blog post: https://lnkd.in/gbMk8s6b. #world #youth #learn #community #CHV