Downtown Eastside Vancouver is a place of poverty and addiction. Being a resident of the East Vancouver myself, I have had a first-hand experience in witnessing the struggles of poverty, alcoholism, addiction, and violence. There are too many people stuck in the poverty cycle down in the Eastside, and there seems like their lives are ruined with no hope, due to poor choices they have made in their lives.

As if there seems like nothing can be done for these people, I read a recent blog post by fellow classmate Bowie Ko, named “Old Skool Cafe“, which talks about a restaurant that specifically employs people who are struggling with addictions and poverty. After learning about these restaurants which provide opportunity and hope towards people in need such as Old Skool Cafe and Save On Meats, I have the utmost respect for establishments witch are trying to provide a positive change in their communities through creating social enterprise with their business models.

Save On Meats has inspired myself to become a social entrepreneur and start an organization starting in my own community to help those in need and to create a business which provides jobs to those on the streets while remaining profitable. I realize the importance of the growth of distraught communities, and it is important to give back to the community which helped raise you.

 

Sources:

http://ubyssey.ca/culture/dtes-eats-975/

https://blogs.ubc.ca/bowieko/2014/11/04/old-skool-cafe/