Free Life Project

The Free Life Project is an outreach to 'at risk' youth in the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver.  Working in partnership with Youth for Christ we hope to help individuals to make choices that enable them to exit a cycle of abuse and addiction.  In order to do this we focus on 3 things:

1.  Relationship

We are convinced that programs make little difference, but that relationships can change lives.  So we try to shape the project to make relationships our main goal.  It takes time to earn trust and build relationship, but we plan to be i this for the long haul!

2.  Reputation

In order to build relationships with individuals who have learnt not to trust people in positions of influence and authority around them it is essential that we prove ourselves to be trustworthy.  These kids are tired of well-meaning adults who just want to give the quick-fix.  Therefore, over time we must show ourselves to be genuinely interested in them, for no other reason than.... well that they matter!  

We want to build a reputation on the streets, so that when kids need help they know they can come to us and trust us to look out for their interests.

Equally, as we work with the Ministry  of Children and Family Development, the Vancouver Police Department and other non-profit organizations, it is essential that we display to them our heart to be there for individual kids and not just to make ourselves feel good (though it really does give us a buzz!!).

3.  Referral

There is so much need in the East-side, and thankfully there are many organizations that are well placed to support.  We don't kid ourselves that we are experts in addictions or sexual abuse counseling etc, but we know people who are.  Our goal is to effectively refer kids to the right places.

One problem is that kids are often passed from one service to another and they feel like they don't matter.  Our hope is that we can provide a more constant presence in the referral process.  So when we refer someone to another organization it does not end our relationship with them, in fact it might deepen it as we continue to walk with them further, perhaps attending meetings with them as needed.

Visit the Free Life Facebook page here