Eight social work students at UBC Okanagan are striving to fulfil the Christmas wishes of homeless people in Kelowna this holiday season.
Fourth-year social work student Ana Frias first discovered the Homeless Partners Christmas Wish List initiative while surfing the Internet. She thought it sounded like a great program, and with the support of her fellow classmates and instructors in the school of social work, has now launched the program in Kelowna.
“We interview individuals from the homeless community and post their personal stories and Christmas wishes on a website,” said Frias. “Then, people from the community can read their individual profiles and choose who they want to fulfil a wish for. Not only does it safely connect people with the individual they are helping in a very meaningful way, it works to reduce the stigma that is often associated with homelessness.”
Created in Vancouver in 2005, the Homeless Partners Christmas Wish List project has spread to nearly a dozen communities throughout North America. It is a non-profit, self-funded program run entirely by volunteers, in partnership with the staff at shelters where the program is offered.
Last year, more than 2,000 wishes were granted for the homeless.
“In Kelowna, we expect to have about 200 homeless people profiled this year,” said Jody Rud, fourth-year social work student and public relations co-ordinator for the project. Three Kelowna shelters – Inn from the Cold, the Kelowna Gospel Mission and Ozanam House – will be involved.
Their stories should be posted by mid-December. Although the stories are not yet created for the Kelowna website, people can visit the national website at homelesspartners.com to read stories from other cities and get a better idea of how the program works. Top of Page
