Be My Friend
Civic & Social Organization - , ,
Be My Friend Employees
Be My Friend Details
"Be My Friend" is essentially a two-way relationship. From one perspective, it offers an individual the opportunity to a new and exciting social relationship through companionship with a registered "buddy" and, from another, it provides a fulfilling service opportunity with an intimate, tangible impact. Two of my long-time friends, Michael and Colin Barber, both have autism. Even during my primary school years, I found it difficult to grapple with the reality that two of the kindest and most genuine people I knew were being neglected and even bullied by their peers. Looking back at our more than eight years together, it was the simple moments we shared—playing video games or kicking a ball around—when I truly saw and felt their joy.Students all across Canada need mandatory service hours to graduate, and I feel that they are being wasted in a pursuit to check off boxes. By collaborating with the BC Ministry of Education, I hope to explore how "Be My Friend" can be integrated into the required school service system. I am planning to configure a local pilot program within my school community with the vision of expanding this successful model to regions all over BC and eventually Canada as a whole, with leaders in each community. We are also focussed on addressing food security—an especially serious issue during the pandemic.
