This is a very powerful and life impacting wake up call for youth that are on the fringes of or are already involved in any of the following: alcohol, drugs, violence, gang mentality, criminal activity or likely headed for trouble with the law if they do not turn their lives around. This program was designed specifically to show youth there are choices to be made and there will be consequences of the choices that they do make. This is a five-day program where the youth stay in Vancouver and take part in a series of workshops including:
Welcome to the belly of the beast
Two street tours of the downtown eastside, a day tour and a night tour, each show youth the hard cold realities of the lives of people that are trapped in drug addiction. The downtown eastside is a notorious den of drugs and desperation. Youth get to witness firsthand the devastation that takes place in the cycle of addiction. They hear from addicts themselves how hopeless their lives will become once they are hooked on heroin, cocaine, crack and crystal meth.
Drug court
Youth get to sit in on a session of Vancouver Drug Court and will see and hear the addicts facing charges related to their addictions. Those facing the court are generally right out of the police lockup and are drug sick and not looking very well. It has a very impacting effect on youth to see the carnage addiction has brought to the lives of these unfortunate people.
A look at Native history
A day trip to the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia is a fascinating journey back in time. Youth see Native artifacts from all over North America, they also get to go behind the scenes thanks to the Museum Curator and witness the inner workings of the Museum and how items are catalogued and stored, they also see artifacts that are not yet on display to the general public. Some youth have been amazed to see artifacts that came from their community.
Welcome to the University
Youth are welcomed at the UBC Longhouse program and learn the importance of higher education and how they can enter the Longhouse program at the University. They also get to interact with Native students currently attending the program.
West coast family night
The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Center hosts a weekly family night and hundreds of people attend a clean and sober night of drumming and special performances by Aboriginal groups from all across British Columbia.
The real truth about drugs and alcohol
A day workshop facilitated by Lee Mason gives everyone a complete understanding of the physiological and pharmacological effects of alcohol on the body and mind, how alcohol poisoning occurs, the detrimental effects of alcohol on the mind, body, spirit and social aspects of our life. This component also provides an up to date look at all drugs being sold today. This segment ties in with the education they gained from the street tour and clearly breaks the myth many youth have that “it's something that just can’t happen to me, I’m only doing it for fun, I won’t get addicted”. Facts are presented in an honest, understanding and very straightforward manner.

Please call or email us for further information about this program