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Who We Are
Who We Are
Founded in 2017, Adopt Our Community is a student-led non-profit organization dedicated to serving communities and strengthening bonds between community members. We empower youth to lead initiatives on issues they care about, bringing together student volunteers from diverse locations. Our shared gratitude for the places we call home sparks our desire to give back and make a positive impact. Overall, our focus areas are: (1) community building, (2) supporting underserved communities, and (3) raising awareness of current issues.
Milestones
200+
Donated 200+ items of clothing items to Directions Youth Services
400+
Donated $400+ dollars worth of Christmas Wishlist items to Ray-Cam Community Centre
2000+
Raised $2000+ dollars for Hogar De Gina in Peru to fund school trips
250+
Raised $250+ dollars for BC Children's Hospital to support the medical workers in BC
150+
Delivered 150+ sandwiches to less fortunate communities and shelters
700+
Fundraised $700+ dollars for care packages to support local health services
100+
Donated 100+ care packages to BC Children's Hospital during the pandemic
30+
Compiled and sent 30+ videos to frontline workers to express our gratitude and thanks
130+
Wrote 130+ letters to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic to foster connection
100+
100+ entries worldwide in our "Earth Week, Every Week" raffle draw and BINGO
20+
Had people in 20+ different areas around the world participate in our projects
3200+
Raised over $3200+ for Covenant House Vancouver in support of homeless youth
70+
Had 70+ attendees in our "Art Beyond the Classroom" online auction and raised $400+
3500+
Raised $3500+ dollars to help Lytton First Nation rebuild homes after wildfire
1000+
Raised $1000+ dollars for Alzheimer Society of BC to help those impacted by dementia
470+
Handcrafted and donated 470+ bookmarks to community spaces like libraries
Executive Directors
Yihang Li President
Currently a grade 11 student at Dover Bay Secondary School, Yihang is honoured to be serving as the Co-President of AOC. Since watching AOC grow from a small-scale initiative to a full-fledged organization, she has deeply admired how it empowers youth to come together and create change. Over the years, she has stepped into roles from District Director to Vice President, and is excited to build upon her experiences. In her spare time, Yihang can be found enjoying long strolls at the beach, dabbling in video editing, or banging a gavel in Model UN. She looks forward to working with fellow members and furthering the organization’s mission!
Cindy Wu ​President
Cindy Wu is a Grade 12 student at Lord Byng Secondary School. She is grateful to be serving as the Vice President of AOC. Cindy is an active member in charity activities and enjoys reading and hiking in her spare time. This is the third year that Cindy has been working for AOC and she is passionate about contributing to local societies and looks forward to holding community events as the Vice President of AOC. Cindy is gratified to spread kindness and warmth to society through the efforts of her and her peers. She is ready to devote her time and enthusiasm to the work of AOC!
Lawrence Luo Vice President
Lawrence Luo is a grade 12 student from Port Moody Secondary School in Port Moody, BC. This will be his 3rd year in Adopt Our Community and he is very excited to support AOC projects and its commitment to bettering the communities we all live in. In his free time, Lawrence enjoys playing piano, watching movies, running, and more. Lawrence is looking forward to making an impact on the world with AOC.
Harleen Aujla ​Finance Co-Director
Harleen Aujla is a grade 11 student from Vancouver, BC, currently attending Khalsa Secondary School. As Finance Director, she brings strategic oversight and financial leadership to drive sustainable growth for Adopt Our Community. Harleen hopes to strengthen the organization’s financial future and support long-term success through her passion for innovation, efficiency, and striving for greater possibilities. Outside school and volunteer commitments, she enjoys hiking, reading, and baking sweets. Harleen is excited to gain new experiences, meet new people, and make a lasting impact as a member of the executive team!
Cecil Yang ​Finance Co-Director
My name is Cecil Yang ,I am currently in grade 11 ,I go to Steveston London Secondary in Richmond. I want to gain valuable skill for my future career in finance ,at the same time .offer my share of effort to improve our community .
Bruce Ji IT Co-Director
Bruce Ji is a Grade 12 student at Sentinel Secondary School in West Vancouver, British Columbia. Passionate about technology and community service, Bruce serves as the IT Co-Director of Adopt Our Community (AOC), where he leads website management, digital outreach, and data systems that support local volunteering initiatives. Beyond AOC, he has founded and directed several STEM and service organizations (Like the Vancouver Youth Mathematical Modeling Association), combining his interests in computer science, entrepreneurship, and social impact to empower youth engagement and community development.
Jayden Shin IT Co-Director
Jayden Shin is a grade 11 student at Oakridge Secondary School in London, Ontario. Dedicated to non-profit work, Jayden has been involved in several efforts related to community service, most recently serving as a delegate to the United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Forum in New York City and speaking to ministers of nations and other delegates. He is also involved in other non-profit endeavors such as STEM Thrivers and the Free Your Mind Initiative as a web developer.
Daniel Jin ​Marketing Co-Director
Daniel is a grade 11 student attending Dover Bay Secondary School. As the Marketing Director, Daniel aims to build AOC’s digital presence into a powerful platform that connects underserved communities with resources, volunteers, and donors. He hopes to aspire and influence change in his community, and make a positive impact in AOC. When he is not stressing over homework, Daniel can found reading, honing his instrumental skills or practicing Muay Thai, and preparing to win his 10th consecutive Gold Medal in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Charmaine Chan Marketing Co-Director
Hi, I'm Charmaine, and I'm currently in grade 11 at Laurel Heights Secondary School in Waterloo, Ontario. In AOC, I hope to learn more about creating marketing campaigns, stratagies, and meet new people.
Vivaan Bajaj Marketing Co-Director
Vivaan is a junior in high school at Dover Bay Secondary School, Nanaimo. He is honoured to serve as a marketing director for AOC. He aims to help AOC grow, reach more people, and create lasting change. Through outreach and consistent effort, he hopes to inspire greater involvement and make a meaningful impact in the community. In his free time, Vivaan can be seen working out, practicing martial arts, drawing and reading.
Jason Zhao Human Resources Co-Director
Jason Zhao is a Grade 9 student at John Fraser Secondary School in Mississauga, ON. He is honoured to be serving as a Human Resources Director this year. Passionate about leadership and global affairs, Jason loves attending and staffing Model United Nations conferences. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering, swimming competitively, and playing volleyball casually with friends. Jason is always seeking new ways to grow, connect with others, and make a positive impact. He aspires to continue developing his leadership skills and hopes to contribute meaningfully to every community he serves through AOC.
Alex Jin Human Resources Co-Director
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Alex Jin is a Grade 11 student from Southridge School in Surrey, BC. He is honored and excited to serve as the Human Resources Director and Director for Surrey District this year. As an executive of AOC, he hopes to positively impact the community and give all members a rewarding experience. In his spare time, Alex enjoys solving math problems and programming software, as well as doing debate and playing chess competitively. He hopes to make a lasting impact with an organization as big as AOC and foster personal and community growth.
Honorary Presidents
Yichen Li Honorary President
Yichen is a sophomore student at Harvard College double concentrating in East Asian Studies and History & Literature. She first joined Adopt Our Community in Grade 7, and she has been dedicated to its vision since, expanding it into new districts and leading projects in her hometown Nanaimo throughout her high school career. As the founder and the editor of Initiating Our Voices Journal (italicize), Yichen continues to find joy in encouraging and supporting Adopt Our Community members as they give back to their communities and find their special place in this world.
Joy Fan Honorary President
Joy, a student at Northwestern University studying economics and data science, served as AOC President for the 2024–2025 term. She began as a general member in Grade 10 and rose through roles including Vancouver District Director and high school club founder. As President, she launched the Vancouver Youth Greenway Sustainability Foundation with the City of Vancouver, leading 800km of cleanups and securing $2,500 for trail enhancements. She expanded AOC to Surrey, Victoria, and Saskatchewan. Grateful for the friendships, skills, and memories, Joy values her time in AOC and carries those experiences with her into university life.
Jessica Liu Honorary President
Jessica is a second year student at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. where she is pursuing an Arts Degree. She enjoys a diverse range of hobbies from photography to music writing, and has a passion and love for improving the community. She joined AOC in grade ten where she participated and led various events in the Vancouver district, and also joined other community-based volunteering like Adopt a Block street cleanup.
Founders
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