She Can is back and bigger than ever before
After the incredible success of its first year, we can’t wait to empower and support even more female-identifying and nonbinary youth affected by childhood cancer and blood disorders in 2023.
She Can (now known as The Club) launched in early 2022 as a collaboration between WCK, ShEvalesco, and She Defines Strength, supported by funding from CIBC. Participants attended regular virtual sessions and learned important life skills like assertive communication, self-compassion, financial literacy, and wellbeing and nutrition.
These sessions made a huge impact and helped prepare and empower this group of young people for a future beyond their cancer experiences.
"THIS WAS INCREDIBLE. Thank you SO much for what you are doing,” said Bronwyn, one of last year’s She Can attendees.
"These aren't just ‘cancerland’ strategies that I am learning, these are strategies I can apply for the rest of my life and teach others!”
For 2023, we are grateful to continue our collaboration with ShEvalesco and She Defines Strength to deliver this awesome program, and we are proud to partner with RBC Future Launch to expand it even further!
RBC Future Launch is a $500 million commitment to empower Canadian youth and prepare them for the future. With a focus on networking, skills development, practical work experience and mental wellbeing supports and services, the initiative aims to help break down the barriers facing young people.
“We’re excited to be working with West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation to help bring RBC Future Launch to life,” said Valerie Chort, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability, RBC.
“We have a responsibility to prepare young people for the opportunities and ambiguities of the future. RBC Future Launch is a decade-long commitment to helping Canadian youth prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.”
In addition to providing funding to support the She Can program, RBC employees volunteered at our Burnaby office and helped pack wellness kits for the She Can participants.
The dedicated Brentwood team also created fun packs for kids in the hospital, and labeled food to go to BC Children’s hospital and family homes across the province. “We look forward to deepening this relationship and continue to help serve this important mandate,” said Nouha Kubain, RBC branch manager.
What's new in 2023
This year will see the program expanded to include siblings of people who have experienced childhood cancer and blood disorders. We will also host our first ever in-person She Can retreat at Camp Capilano in North Vancouver, where participants will come together to connect, make memories, and expand on the skills and knowledge they gained through the program.
Thanks to the support of RBC Future Launch and WCK supporters, all aspects of the She Can program – including travel costs – will be provided at absolutely no cost to participants.
In addition to these amazing program developments, we are thrilled to welcome Simran Sarai to the team as our dedicated She Can Program Assistant.
As a young person with lived experience of childhood cancer, Simran has experienced how life-changing it is to be part of a community that understands the realities of cancer.
“Being able to work for WCK is a full-circle moment for me,” says Simran. “I am so grateful to do the same type of work that impacted me so greatly growing up.”
We are incredibly thankful to RBC Future Launch and our supporters for making the She Can program possible, and to our partners ShEvalesco and She Defines Strength for their collaboration with WCK to create such impactful opportunities for female-identifying and nonbinary youth.
Thank you to the partners and supporters of the She Can program
