By Lloyd Mackey

IF heroes are made, not born, then who makes them – and by what guidelines does this manufacturing process occur?

The Heroes program, which has produced 25,000 alumni in Alberta, under the tutelage of the Impact Society, is being introduced through three pilot projects during the next few months, in Kelowna.

Okanagan Heroes coordinator Jennifer Gumienny explains that the program is designed for young people between the ages of 11 and 18. Asked to describe the program, she says: “It is intended to introduce self-esteem and character-building concepts to teens. We provide them with a manual based on psychological principles that help them probe feelings, thoughts and behaviour.”

The goal, she adds, is to literally “raise up heroes.”

She suggests the program’s development has been intended, through the 14 years it has been going in Alberta, to help young people view themselves positively and enable them to build healthy relationships.

Thus, the question posed at the beginning of this article. Making the assumption that inspiring kids to become  heroes is a good thing, and that a great many factors can contribute to teens thinking badly about themselves, how does change occur?

Gumienny carefully points out that the program is biblically based, and the people who work with it are persuaded to let God take care of what he does in young lives, rather than trying to “proselytize” their alumni to a particular church.

This point is important to remember, she suggests, because Heroes operates in public school systems, where overt – or even implicit – proselytizing would be considered unethical, or even verboten.

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Heroes is usually directed at grade eight students, with a deeper level for higher grades. Self-esteem building works at a person’s sense of self-worth, self-image and self-respect. The key to healthy relationships is “not just to do but to be,” notes Gumienny.

The program involves 12 to 14 weekly sessions. Participants are provided with a ‘resiliency measuring tool,’ which enables them and their leaders to evaluate ‘emotional intelligence,’ Gumienny notes.

Impact Society’s website claims some “remarkable effects” from the program:

• Development of positive role models
• Better family dynamics
• Improvement in school
• Reduced crime damage
• Prevention of suicide  

Gumienny works with Mark Gordon, pastor of Kelowna Full Gospel Church. Gordon had extensive experience as a Heroes volunteer in Calgary – and, while he earns his living as a pastor, he has a strong volunteer commitment to getting the Kelowna program going.

Many Heroes volunteers are youth pastors in a range of denominations.  In Kelowna, much encouragement has come from a youth ministers group that operates as a spinoff from the Kelowna Evangelical Ministerial Association.

Impact Society is attempting to raise $100,000 to complete the pilot projects, and put the program on a firm footing in Kelowna. The schools and organizations involved in the pilot projects are not being publicly identified at this time.

For more information, contact 250.763. 3738 or impactsociety.com.

May 2008