Connecting with at risk youth
Mei Wen, BMSc ’14 and incoming MPH student, volunteered her time on a weekly basis at Street Connection, a drop in centre founded in London for at risk youth, for more than a year.
“Volunteering at Street Connection was my way of spending my Friday nights. No matter how tired I felt before going to the centre, I would always end up leaving feeling very gratified that I used my time reaching out to the homeless youth in the London community,” Wen said.
Recognizing the importance of providing support to at risk youth, as well as creating awareness and educating the public, Wen and another volunteer decided to create a fundraising initiative called Youth Lifting Youth. Wen’s main goal for the fundraiser was to help Street Connection alleviate some of their financial responsibility, as well as raise awareness at Western University, Fanshawe College and high schools in London for the homeless youth community.
