Page 10 - QMSConnectionsMagazine-2020-21-digital
P. 10
A Resilient Vision
for Vancouver
GRAEME FOWLER (1999–2007)
Each day presents us with opportunities to grow, love, explore, and learn. It is simply up
to us to see them, embrace them and allow a new path to form in front of our feet.
and courage. For example, last
Christmas we held a fundraising
event and one of our kids ran up
to me with his bag, emptying
it in front of me saying, ‘Mr. G.
I want to donate!’” He pauses
and continues. “It was $2.25…
all he had. It brings me a lot
of hope for the city and the
country. We are in good hands
in many ways.”
A key part of Promise
Vancouver’s mission is to
facilitate youth leadership skills
in the communities they serve.
Graeme admits that kids coming
from vulnerable life situations
possess a unique perspective
when it comes to leadership as
a whole, so the organization
For Graeme Fowler (1999– Outreach, he leapt at the works diligently to find fitting
2007), a service trip to chance to make a difference. activities and methodologies
Honduras in Grade 11 resulted Located in Vancouver’s that reinforce the positive
in a profound career change infamous downtown eastside, nature of these life skills. For
with Promise Vancouver Promise Vancouver engages some, it means providing a
years later. “While we were with and supports roughly 20 little more responsibility, such
in Copan, I fell in love with families and children with as helping kids read, leading
Urban Promise International,” afterschool programs, camps group activities, and even
explains Graeme. “It promotes and mentorship programs year help our staff strategize for
sustainability and empowers round. During the summer future programs. “The more
indigenous leadership in the months, that care increases to we can provide appropriate
community.” The organization 60 families. responsibility to youth, it tells
is a global Christian ministry Promise Vancouver’s powerful them we trust them,” Graeme
dedicated to fostering the slogan—Changing futures to explains. “If we can give them
leadership potential in youth transform the world—has served the platform and structure now,
around the world, especially in as an inspiration for Graeme. we hope they will become
under-resourced communities. “Part of the incredible nature strong leaders. Tapping them
Their work in Honduras of working with young people on the shoulder to say we see
resonated with Graeme, so is that kids often bring hope leadership potential in them
when the country’s program in surprising ways,” he shares. could change the course of
leader reached out to him about “There have been a number of their lives.”
starting a branch in Vancouver incidences when I have been When COVID-19 hit this year,
as Director of Programs and humbled by their resilience Graeme and his team worked
8 CONNECTIONS
