Big Journeys – Big Sisters Newsletter 2025 Summer

Program News

• Rafaela and Lynn's Story

  

  Rafaela Follows in the Footsteps of Big Sister Lynn

  “I don’t really know where I’d be, or who I would be without Lynn.” – Rafaela, Little Sister

  When Rafaela was first matched with her Big Sister Lynn, she was quiet, reserved and a little shy. She needed someone to believe in her so she could realize reach her full potential.

  Lynn, a successful lawyer with a love for baking, became that someone. With the support, encouragement and backing of her Big Sister, Rafaela is now dreaming big and following in Lynn’s footsteps!

  “One thing I’ve learned from Lynn is that you don’t have to change yourself to be successful. I’m still the same person Lynn met nine years ago—just more confident in who I am.”

  👉 Read the full story and watch the video here

• Bright Futures Education Fund (BFEF) Celebration 2025 - Resilience, Growth, and Bright Futures

  

  Celebrating Resilience, Growth, and Bright Futures

  Highlights from the 2025 Bright Futures Education Fund Celebration.

  In June, we gathered for a heartwarming evening to celebrate the incredible journeys of students supported by the Bright Futures Education Fund.

  The evening featured meaningful stories and the kind of community connection that reminds us why this fund exists. Graduates reflected on the challenges they’ve faced and the lessons they’ve learned — from finding balance during demanding programs to building friendships in unfamiliar spaces.

  It was a powerful reminder that behind every scholarship is a network of people cheering students on every step of the way.

  👉 Read the full recap and hear directly from this year’s inspiring graduates!

• Celebrating Our Volunteers

  

  Volunteer Recognition Party 2025

  In June, we celebrated the amazing volunteers who give their time, care, and energy to support youth in our community. Together, they contributed over 36,000 hours last year alone,.

  Among them, Nester Chen reached an incredible milestone, volunteering with the Big Sisters Mentorship program for 10 years. Reflecting on her journey, Nester shared, “Mentorship is about passing along what you’ve learned in life but it’s also about showing up even on days when you’re tired or overwhelmed because someone is counting on you to be a steady presence in their life.”

  The evening was filled with gratitude and fun as we celebrated the impact of all our volunteers and what mentorship means to them.

  Thank you to all our volunteers for being the heart of Big Sisters.

  👉 Read more and see photos from the evening here

• Group Mentoring Program Spotlight: Go Girls!

  

  Group Mentoring Program Spotlight: Go Girls!

  Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds is a group mentorship program designed for girls and gender-diverse youth in grades 4–8. Through active games and meaningful conversations, mentors help young people build confidence, make healthy choices, and form real connections.

  This fall, we’re excited to expand the program into North Vancouver — and we’re looking for new volunteers to help us bring Go Girls! to more communities.

  As one group of mentees put it: “The best thing about Go Girls! was getting to meet new people, how it’s a safe space with welcoming people, the chance to learn what to do when something bad happens, and being able to talk to new people.”

  That sense of safety, support, and belonging is what Go Girls! is all about.

  Longtime mentor Rache Michon, who has volunteered with Big Sisters for over 10 years, knows the impact firsthand. “To me, mentorship means being the person you needed when you were younger,” she says. “It’s about creating a space that’s safe, fun, and real — where young people feel heard and seen for who they are.”

  If you love working with youth and want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

  👉 Learn more and apply to mentor

• Growing Our Volunteer Community

  Volunteers Make It Happen, and We’re Growing Thanks to You

  We’ve been actively recruiting volunteers throughout the Lower Mainland, and it’s all thanks to your support. Whether someone spotted our bus shelter ads or stopped by our booth at a local fair, these everyday moments are helping us connect with potential mentors and build a stronger community.

  

  We have been promoting volunteer opportunities throughout the Lower Mainland to help us reduce waiting lists and connect youth in our communities with the perfect mentor.

  Between December 2024 and mid-February 2025, we ran 16 bus shelter ad panels across eight key locations to help us reach community members right where they live, commute, and connect.

  The campaign helped raise visibility for our Study Buddy program in areas with the highest need for volunteer mentors. We hope this outreach inspires more community members to get involved and support local youth.

  

  This year alone, we’ve attended 11 volunteer fairs, with more than 10 still to come. These events continue to be one of the best ways for us to share what Big Sisters is all about and invite others to get involved.

  “Attending volunteer fairs is the perfect way for Big Sisters to connect with our community and explain what we do and the power of mentorship,” says Marley Stevens, Volunteer and Community Engagement Lead. “We’re especially grateful to the fairs in Burnaby, Tri-Cities, Surrey, and White Rock, where the need for volunteers is particularly high. Our new Alumni Committee has also been helping at our booths and sharing their personal stories, which has created meaningful connections with future mentors. If you see us out in the community, feel free to stop by and say hello!”

  We’ve also expanded our group mentoring programs to North Vancouver and are currently recruiting volunteers in that area. Your support helps us grow—and every new mentor brings us closer to reaching more youth in need.