Diversity Experience the Boys and Girls Club Diversity Experience: The Boys and Girls Club

There is no other population as vulnerable as children. Often times, the trouble they face is not because of their own immediate actions, but from the actions of the others around them. Yet, they suffer the most. That is why community activism working towards bettering the conditions of the nation's children is so important, and why the work of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club is so important.

I had the opportunity to attend an event at the local Boys and Girls Club here in Kelowna. The event took place at 2337 Richter St. In Kelowna at the Downtown Youth Centre. This particular Boys and Girls Club works primarily with older groups and families. In fact, other than the Summer Camp Activities, the location's primary focus is older children, mostly teens. The event I attended was part of the Youth Program directed at kids ages 13 to 19. I went to the July 25th BBQs with Victory for Life, which is actually an event held every fourth Thursday of the month at noon. The event goes on for several hours, with free BBQ food offered to the kids and adults in attendance. It is primarily a place for kids to get some good food, but also to learn about all the activities and support services that the Centre offers. For several hours, food and information are passed out to both at-risk teens, but also their parents and other adults who share a general concern for particular teens' welfare.

The experience was definitely new for me. At first, the event was rather slow, but as the day progressed it picked up. The smell of the...

The event was similar to others I had experienced because of the type of people who were working it. Many who were there were actually success stories from the work the Club had been doing. They were giving back to the very programs that had helped give them support when they were in need, and that was a beautiful sight. The teenage years are definitely a time of great life transition. The text suggests that "each transition requires its own combination of coping skills; each has its own cultural-social meaning (e.g. attitudes about divorce) and persons bring different personal and social resources to the transition" (259). The fact that a lot of the volunteers had been through similar issues helps these vulnerable teens cope with their transitions much easier. They have people they can turn to that understand them and what they are going through, which will hopefully make it easier for them to ask for help.
It was nice to see so many in the community concerned about the status of the city's youth. What was most surprising to me was the sheer number of programs and services offered to teens by the Centre. They had information on programs for at-risk you housing, employment services, and counseling. All the programs offered were heavily supported by a number of organizations and businesses from around Kelowna. It was pleasantly surprising to see the community working together so much to try to provide for the teens in need around the city. This…