Overview

The HOPE Initiative aims to work in partnership with marginalized societal groups in a way that shows awareness and respect for their backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. We are a peer-generated grassroots initiative and we do not work under the constraints of any existing organizations. Our philosophy resonates around the concept of mutual aid—where there is a common established goal that guides our actions so that our events will benefit all parties involved. We work around 3 pillars. The first is student empowerment, where our members are given space and freedom to plan their own ideas and are provided with the resources and tools to tackle future projects or initiate new events out of their own ideas. Our second pillar is outreach within our schools. HOPE's wish is to challenge young people to reach deeper within their hearts and arrive at a place not just of sympathy but of true empathy for the people around them. With this mindset, we run events at high schools across Vancouver, engaging students with developmental disabilities. We also have a one-on-one mentorship program between university students and those who are prospective students at specific high schools help their transitions to post-secondary. Lastly, we reach out towards local and international community groups such as the homeless. Through our continued efforts, the story of HOPE's creation and purpose was recently introduced on the international stage at We Day Vancouver 2014. Also with a connection to Free the Children, HOPE plans to carry out an international service project and increase UBC’s international community service presence sometime in the coming years. The vision for this organization is not only for youth to break free of their stagnant realities, but to instill passion within them to take action towards critical issues in society and to further appreciate and understand the lives of the people who have shaped and continue to shape Vancouver.