Kistie Singh has been deeply involved with SOS BC for over seven years and has been instrumental in advancing the mission and quality care our charity provides to foster kids and youth in need. Kistie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and a Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University and has extensive experience in community relations, education and training, child safeguarding, and advocacy. From her time in the field and on the ground working in the community and Village with families, youth, and children, Kistie has gathered a wealth of knowledge and information integral to shaping the future of SOS BC’s commitments.
She has spent the last five years working closely with international cohorts in the SOS Children’s Villages community to build and align programming at the local level with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. Her career has led to promising international relationships with national associates in North America and Europe. Kistie has had the opportunity to work on a 4 month youth research project at the SOS International office in Innsbruck, Austria.
In 2015, Kistie was responsible for the implementation of SOS BC’S first youth homelessness prevention project: Year Intensive Housing. This program has successfully supported youth in care transition to independence and ensured that youth aging out of care always have a place to call home. She also led the completion of a three year evaluation of youth programs at SOS BC and the impact these programs have made for former youth in care.
On a local level, Kistie’s experience has spread awareness on the status of children in care in BC and helped SOS build bridges to work closely with First Nations communities. As part of this initiative Kistie worked with staff and local Elders on a 3 year reconciliation project, and implemented SOS’s first Reconciliation Action Plan Policy. The policy is a direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls-to-Action, in order to ensure that SOS BC is doing whatever possible to better meet the needs of children in care who identify as Indigenous.
She has transitioned from an education focus to overseeing the operations, programs, and child protection practices at the Village. Kistie is deeply involved with the youth and children who live in, or are involved with, the SOS BC campus located in Surrey. She understands that it takes one adult – one caring individual – to help children in care, and who are vulnerable in the community, to understand that they are full of potential and deserve love and acceptance.
Regardless of what project, what priority, or advocacy, Kistie works towards ensuring children and youth feel safe, are collaboratively involved in their self development, and have their needs met as young children and youth that are a part of the SOS BC community, and of our greater society.
Why I love my job: “I love my job because I know I’m making a difference in the lives of kids who see me every week. To know that I’ve helped someone get through a hardship, whether it be school or in their social and home lives, I’m grateful knowing I’ve helped kids in care understand, develop, and grow. Knowing you made a difference and you were able to be that beam of support when a kid most needed you has been humbling and I am rewarded when kids eagerly run into the Village Centre with huge smiles on their faces.”
