Kids Up Front 2011 Video

Sends children to UBC’s Computer Science Camp

The Keep Kids off the Streets this Summer Campaign, launched by Kids Up Front Foundation on June 29, 2010, the day school was officially over for most kids, was designed to keep kids with too much time on their hands safe and out of trouble. However, only a few weeks into the program, another outcome has already become evident – getting kids off the streets and into healthy alternative activities can develop into new career goals and, in the case of two 12 year old boys, into a passion for studying computer science.

In July, Kids Up Front sent seven children to UBC’s computer science day camp for one week, including two 12 year old boys who are also clients of Vancouver Coastal Health.  Both boys come from very low income, immigrant families, who would never have been able to afford to send them to camp.  One of the children was in hospital for the entire summer last year with serious depression and anxiety.  The other child is partially deaf, has a speech problem, and has a lot of difficulty with anxiety, social relationships and communication. Both children are intelligent and get straight A’s in math.   Although neither child actually owns a computer, they have used computers at school and at the public library. And both boys are passionate about computers.

The computer camp gave the children the opportunity to see what computer scientists can do – such as designing and running robots, programming computers, and designing games.  They met actual professors and volunteer students from the computer science program who were able to communicate their creativity and enthusiasm. Sharon Van Volkingburgh, Child and Youth Clinician with Vancouver Coastal Health, a partner agency of Kids Up Front, attributes the camp experience with providing new career aspirations for her clients. According to Volkingburgh, both boys told her they plan to go to UBC and study computer science when they finish high school.  “I am thrilled that these young people have had this wonderful opportunity, which may make a very significant difference to their future,” Volkingburgh stated.

With school out for the summer it’s more important now than ever to keep the kids engaged in safe, healthy and fun activities and keep them off the streets.  Keep Kids off the Streets this Summer will help  make it possible for underserved children and youth to participate in day camps, sporting and recreational events, live theatre and concerts, art galleries and museums, and cultural and local events. Every $5.00 provides a quality event for a child.