The Rina M Bidin Foundation has respectfully contributed to many worthy projects.
The Girls Teen Nights Program in the Vancouver downtown east side offers a safe, fun place for teens to hang out on Thursday and Friday nights. Staff and trained mentors have been able to build relationships and provide support for the young teens while providing a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental place for them to ask questions, gain life skills, develop resiliency and learn to successfully navigate the challenges of being a teenager in the DTES.
Life Skills Program in Youth Housing Within a safe, stable housing environment in Vancouver youth are equipped through education and life skills training so they can break the cycle of poverty and gain the ability to live well and eventually provide for their families. As an example, youth are assisted in enrolling into school, assisted with school and assignments, assisted in seeking post-secondary funding and enrollment, they also learn about nutrition and cooking, laundry skills, organization and planning, time management, communication and even receive help in obtaining their drivers license.
Supporting Education Upon visiting an alternate school, grades 6 to 12 in Coquitlam, B.C. the Foundation became aware that the school did not have, among other things, computers, shop equipment and musical instruments. The students of this school are among the most vulnerable kids living below the poverty line. The majority of the students are First Nations. Over a two year period the Foundation has provided funding for:
A computer lab consisting of computers/monitors/network switches, computer tables, misc items such as mice, memory cards etc. as required,
Musical instruments,
Tools for Shop Program,
Food Safe Training,
Driver training for students,
6 literature kits for English 9 and 10 allowing for solid educational programming
Kitchen Connection Programs/First Nations Elders teaching children and youth. Cultural teachings for working in the kitchen including safe preparation and handling of food, nutritional teaching, budgeting, learning about the life cycle of traditional foods.