The Sanctuary for Kids Promise

The charities which Sanctuary for Kids supports have been very carefully chosen. Part of our selection process includes determining which organizations will benefit significantly from the marketing boost that comes from S4K and our connections. We like the little guy! We ensure through our auctions and online giving that 100% of the money donated goes directly to the children and the programs that support them.

Since its inception last November, and as of August, 2010, S4K has now raised over $174,000. By far exceeding our initial year one goal in just eight months, we now face the exciting challenge of setting new fundraising goals and deepening our support to our existing charities. We will outline these to you in upcoming weeks.

Save the Children Canada in Haiti

Save the Children is an international organization which fights for children's rights. Their mission is to deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children's lives worldwide. The organization has been in Haiti since 1978. They work with local Haitian partners, who make up 90% of their staff and volunteers, to deliver essential and effective services for children. In the effort to create lasting change, these include child rights and child protection programs as well as teacher training and education programs.

Sanctuary for Kids has sent $30000 in crisis aid to the Haiti this year. In addition, it has established two of eight temporary health dispensaries in the commune of Leogane. The temporary dispensaries give people in these areas access to primary health care and will provide employment for 20 youth hired to build the units. This project’s health activities benefit nearly 35,000 children living in mountainous areas where distances to the main hospital in Leogane town can be almost unattainable.

Nepal Orphans Home

Established in 2005, Nepal Orphans Home attends to the welfare of children in Nepal who are orphaned, abandoned, or not supported by their parents. The foundation currently cares for 150 children in 4 separate homes, each of which are known as Papa's House. Many of these children have been removed from situations where they had been sold into indentured servitude. Papa’s House provides for the children’s basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing, as well as schooling and health care, and administers to their emotional needs with love and compassion. Papa’s House allows children to grow up in a nurturing environment. The mission of Nepal Orphans Home is not just to rescue children from abject poverty, but to enable the children to develop and realize their potentials.

Sanctuary for Kids has donated funds to date has allowed the orphanage to open Gumba House (which means “Sanctuary”) and reunite seven sets of sisters who had been sold by their parents due to poverty. In addition, we have set up the Sanctuary for Kids NOH Capital Fund. Nepal Orphans home has plans to build its own campus which will house and educate the children. (Buildings are currently leased). The fund’s goal is to raise $100 000 over the next three years to build the first Papa’s House on the campus.

Watari’s Transitioning to Independence Program(TTIP) and the Transitioning to Independence Program for Parenting Youth (TIPPY)

These two programs work with the homeless youth population in Vancouver, BC. The goal of each of the programs is to assist youth, 16 - 24, to master skills required to maintain market housing while supporting them to continue to receive support for mental health/substance misuse. By removing the barrier of homelessness youth can put energy and focus towards other life areas such as educational, vocational and social goals. The purpose of TTIP is to provide 20 units of supported independent living for youth with addiction and or mental health issues. It is a transitional housing program with an expected stay of 18 months. The program consists of two components a rental supplement to enable youth to rent safe market housing and support services from a housing worker. It was the success of the program that allowed for TIPPY to be established, with 10 additional subsidies for pregnant and parenting homeless youth.

Currently it is difficult for youth with mental health or substance misuse to find and maintain safe, affordable housing. Our initiative tackles several crucial elements that addresses gaps in service. This approach allows youth to access treatment or family support while maintaining their housing. Sanctuary for Kids will be giving funds this year to starter kits to help each individual and family set up their homes. (For more info on Watari...)