Past Projects

ONE TO ONE Literacy Society’s mission is to help children develop literacy skills for life.  Their program supports children from diverse and underserved communities who do not, for many reasons, receive literacy support at home. GC4C funds:

• Purchased 18 sets of specifically- researched reading materials packaged in the “ONE TO ONE Book Box” used by trained volunteers to tutor elementary school students who struggle with reading
• The specialized book boxes, covering 21 reading levels, are suitable for students in grades 1 to 3

Total expended 2015: $6,880

For more information on ONE TO ONE Literacy Society: http://www.one-to-one.ca

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Alma means “soul” in Spanish. Their mission is to make positive changes in the lives of Latin American children. They use a micro philanthropic model, partnering with local social entrepreneurs on small, high social return, grassroots education initiatives.

GC4C has sponsored two projects:

Trout Farm Project, Patacancha Peru

• Construction (2013 – 2015) of a trout farm in the rural communities of Patacancha. The goal of the project is to improve the academic potential and performance of the 134 primary school students through the eradication of chronic malnutrition among the student population. The trout farm, constructed within school grounds and operated by trained community volunteers, provides a protein-based school lunch two to three times per week.
• The direct beneficiaries of this project are the children in Patacancha between the ages of 3-13 years. The indirect beneficiaries are parents of the children and the teachers who work with the children (approx. 500 people between the two communities).
• Results so far have shown that of the 134 primary school students, 24% fully or partially recovered from malnutrition and of the 134 primary school students, 84% improved or did not worsen their incidence of malnutrition.
• Teachers have also reported increased attendance and participation in school sessions.
• This project is self-sustaining

Pre-School, Las Palmeras, Bolivia

• Purchased books, school supplies, tables and chairs to help furnish a pre-school in Las Palmeras in Bolivia

Total expended 2013 – 2016: $26,150

For more information on Alma: http://almafoundation.wordpress.com

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The Starfish Pack program provides a backpack of food for hungry kids to take home to their families every Friday throughout the school year. Food is purchased at cost and the backpacks are filled by volunteers. Teachers report an improvement in students’ math, reading, and concentration skills as a result. GC4C funds went to support:

• Weekend backpacks for two children in Coquitlam, B.C. for a full school year.

Total expended 2016: $1,050

For more information of the Starfish Pack Program: http://starfishpack.com/

Options provides counselling to children and youth who are victims of sexual abuse.

In 2018 we donated $4,500 for construction of an outdoor therapeutic healing space, including a pathway, bench, a fence and locking gate, and a fairy garden. The funds also replaced broken toys and restocked art supplies.

In past years our funds have provided

• neurofeedback headbands for clients to use in meditation and stress reduction
• new flooring, shelving, paint, and other upgrades to two playrooms and an art therapy room
• art supplies, games, books and toys
• new lighting and storage units in two counseling rooms and an art therapy room
• resource materials for suicide prevention counselors
• replacements for broken toys, furniture and introduced new materials for therapeutic space
• therapeutic books and bus tickets for users of the clinic

Since 2012 we’ve donated $30,500!

For more information on OCSS: http://www.scss.ca/counselling/sexual-abuse-counselling-centre

Act 2 provides counselling to child trauma victims in the Tri-Cities area of Metro Vancouver. Approximately 250 children are referred to Act 2 every year by the RCMP. Counselling supports kids who are victims of abuse and others suffering the effects of traumatic events such as violence, family breakup, or the death of a loved one.

In 2018, GC4C gave $3,500 to provide art supplies, shelving, storage, toys and a sand tray in an art room and play therapy room.

PLEA delivers community-based social, health, educational, vocational and justice services to children and youth in the Metro Vancouver region.

In past years our funds have provided

• expansion of a popular photography program, serving about 40 teenagers who are in government care. Funds purchased five digital cameras and accessories, which the teens use in a supervised photography program.
• a home entertainment system in PLEA’s new location in East Vancouver. The location hosts more than 10 programs for at-risk or exploited youth, and
• new landscaping and yard equipment for Yardworks, a PLEA program that provides work experience and social skills to youth through the running of a small garden maintenance and junk removal business.

Since 2016 we’ve donated $11,500 to PLEA!

For more information on Plea Community Services: www.plea.ca

WE Charity is an organization dedicated to educating children in Ethiopia.

In 2019, we donated $1,000 to establish Reading Corners Mini Libraries in elementary schools, part of a larger project to establish 35 new reading corners. The libraries give children a chance to read after class and borrow books for the weekend, thus encouraging a culture of reading in areas where books are rare.

In 2018 and 2017, we also supported mini-libraries.

One-Girl-Can is working to improve the health and education of girls in Kenya. Since 2008, One Girl Can has partnered with the Ushirika School, which serves about 650 students in Kibera, a slum neighborhood of one million people in Nairobi.

In 2020, GC4C provided $9,650 to rebuild a students’ library at the Ushirika School, furthering their goals to become doctors, engineers, accountants, and scientists. Many of the girls have university in their sights.
Although the Ushirika School was gradually being updated (GC4C funded construction of a new science lab in 2019), for safety reasons, the government of Kenya ordered immediate reconstruction of the remaining parts of the school in late 2019 or it would face closure.

Since 2017, we’ve donated $29,400 to One Girl Can!

When the COVID pandemic hit, the Options Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre moved most counselling sessions to a virtual format. This meant children could not access the play therapy toys they would have during in-person counselling.

In 2020, GC4C provided $2,500 for travelling play therapy kits for kids to use in their homes while having virtual therapy sessions. Kits include baby dolls, family figurines, puppets, clay, crayons, sketch books, and more. The materials are an ongoing need for the youngest, most vulnerable clients.

Children use toys as their words during play therapy, Options reports. “The majority of our clients do not have bedrooms full of toys nor do they have the range of toy categories that are typically used in play therapy.” There is an added risk that if children use their own toys during therapy, they may start associating the once-loved toy with their trauma. With funds provided by GC4C, Options stocked 20 Play-Therapy-To-Go Kits.
Options provides counselling to abused children aged 3-18 years old in Surrey, British Columbia.
Since 2012 we’ve donated $28,500 to Options.