Our Stories
‘Relentless’ Support for Youth: Why B2Gold Partners with Covenant House Vancouver
August 10, 2023
B2Gold is known for its sustainable and social development works around the world. But for employees based in our Vancouver head office, some of our most inspiring community investing happens close to home. The B2Gold More Than Mining Fund invests approximately $1 million annually, partnering with local charities that work with the most vulnerable and at-risk people in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
One of the most vulnerable subsets of this population is young people – especially those experiencing homelessness and other challenges. This is why, since 2019, the More Than Mining Fund has supported Covenant House Vancouver, a local charity that provides food, shelter, medical care, and other support services to Vancouver’s homeless and at-risk youth.
Covenant House’s mission statement reflects its tenacity of purpose: “To serve all youth with relentless support, absolute respect, and unconditional love; to help youth experiencing homelessness; and to protect and safeguard all youth in need.”
Youth at heart: Striking a chord with B2Gold employees
B2Gold Board Director and Corporate CSR Advisor, Liane Kelly, toured the organization's downtown Vancouver drop-in centre last year, for a firsthand look at how diligently Convent House works to connect with young people in need.
“They want to support them as much as the young people let them, so they have all kinds of services available; they have professional nurses, they have counsellors, they have addiction specialists. They make it very safe for people to come and just have a room and a bed, and lock the door,” says Liane.
The space also feels warm, friendly and “young,” to appeal to its demographic, she notes – with bean-bag chairs and a free-clothing area that feels like a vintage shop that clients can browse. “Some of the youth they serve have escaped a violent situation, so they just have the clothes on their back,” adds Liane.
Among charities supported by the More Than Mining Fund, Covenant House is especially poignant for B2Gold employees, Liane notes: “There are some personal stories within B2Gold, where people's own family members have experienced tragic circumstances. I think people also naturally look at children and youth as more vulnerable. So it does strike that chord with people at B2Gold on a personal level.”
Supporting at-risk youth through crisis and beyond
Covenant House is committed to delivering what it calls “whole person care” – a continuum of services and programs that care for the mind, body, and spirit. With this in mind, the organization works with youth individually, to develop a case plan that is tailored to their specific needs and goals.
In addition to running the drop-in centre, the organization offers short- and long-term housing and support services, such counselling, that enable youth to successfully transition to independence. Last year alone, 258 individual youth stayed in the Covenant House Crisis Program, and the organization served an impressive 96,720 meals.
Specific programs include:
- Housing: Covenant House provides crisis housing for youth aged 16–24 – including nutritious meals, clothing and hygiene supplies – as well as long-term safe, affordable housing for young people under 25 as they transition to independent living, along with housing-search support and life-skills training.
- Drop-in and outreach: The Covenant House Drop-In Centre in downtown Vancouver is a hub for youth support, providing an array of as-needed services, from personal planning to addiction counselling, clothing, shower and laundry facilities, referrals to professional and social services, and more. Meanwhile, the group’s Street Outreach team travels the downtown area on foot, to offer food, needed items, minor medical attention, and support, building trusting relationships with youth by meeting them where they are, and by being a consistent, supportive presence in their lives.
- Health and wellness: A team of Registered Clinical Counsellors provides a full spectrum of care to young people experiencing a range of mental health concerns, such post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse, and others. Therapy may involve one-to-one counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), art therapy, referral to a psychiatrist, referral to a treatment centre, or a combination of services.
Investing in community and social development worldwide
To learn more about B2Gold’s community and social investments in Canada and around the world, please peruse our latest Responsible Mining Report.
To learn more about or support Covenant House, visit their website.
