These Kids Saw a Problem in White Rock, And Decided to Fix It Themselves
There are a lot of things teenagers get accused of these days.
Too much screen time. Too much TikTok. Too little attention span.
Then you meet the team behind the Playful Palette Foundation and realize some kids are out there quietly building something pretty incredible.
When I sat down with Iva, Sabine, and Alex from the Playful Palette Foundation, I honestly expected a conversation about youth arts programs.
What I got instead was a conversation about purpose, community, creativity, leadership, and what happens when young people stop waiting for permission to make a difference.
And the wild part?
They started this organization when they were around 15 years old.
Meanwhile, I’m pretty sure at 15 I was mostly worried about whether my MSN status looked cool enough.
“We Have To Do Something About This”
The Playful Palette Foundation is a youth-led organization focused on helping kids in White Rock and Surrey access arts programs they otherwise could not afford.
Dance.
Theatre.
Music.
Acting.
Programs that can completely shape a kid’s confidence and identity.
The problem is, they’re expensive.
Sabine talked about theatre programs costing thousands of dollars a year, and how she watched kids leave programs they loved simply because their families could not afford them anymore.
And once you hear that, it’s hard not to think about how many talented kids quietly disappear from the arts every year.
That was the moment that stuck with me most during our conversation.
These weren’t kids starting a nonprofit because it looked good on a university application.
They started it because they saw their friends losing opportunities they deeply cared about.
The Arts Are Always the First Thing Cut
One thing the group brought up that really hit home was how sports programs often get community support and funding opportunities, while arts programs are left scrambling.
And honestly, they’re right.
Most people can immediately name sports initiatives that help kids stay involved in hockey, soccer, or basketball.
But theatre?
Dance?
Music?
Not nearly as much.
Meanwhile, these programs shape creativity, confidence, communication skills, and community.
As Alex pointed out during our conversation, art is literally everywhere around us.
The buildings we sit in.
The furniture we use.
The music we listen to.
The films we watch.
Someone created all of it.
Yet somehow, the arts often get treated like an optional extra instead of something foundational.
Their First Fundraiser Nearly Broke Them
One of my favorite parts of the conversation was hearing about their very first variety show at the White Rock Players' Club.
Picture being 15 years old and deciding you’re going to organize a full production, coordinate performers, volunteers, ticket sales, and somehow convince people to actually show up.
No pressure.
They admitted they were terrified.
But they pulled it off.
And that first successful event became proof that they actually could build something real.
That’s the thing about confidence.
It usually shows up after you do the scary thing, not before.
Helping As Many Kids As Possible
What I appreciated most was how thoughtful they’ve become about allocating funding.
They’re not just handing out money randomly.
They’re trying to help the greatest number of kids possible.
One story they shared was about a request to fund an entire year of competitive dance that would have cost several thousand dollars. As much as they wanted to help, they realized that same amount of money could help ten or twelve other kids instead.
That’s a tough decision for adults.
Never mind teenagers running a nonprofit.
But it also shows the maturity behind what they’re building.
More Than Just Arts Funding
What they’ve also created is opportunity.
Young volunteers help with events, gain leadership experience, build resumes, and strengthen university applications through community involvement.
That part really stood out to me too.
The Playful Palette Foundation is not just helping kids access the arts.
It’s helping young people realize they can actually create change in their community.
That mindset shift matters.
A lot.
Why This Matters So Much
At one point in the conversation, they said something that perfectly summed up the entire mission:
“Art itself is such a privilege, and everyone should have a bite of that privilege.”
That line stuck with me.
Because whether it’s music, theatre, dance, filmmaking, or painting, the arts give people something bigger than entertainment.
They give people identity.
Expression.
Belonging.
Confidence.
Community.
And in a world that increasingly feels automated, rushed, and disconnected, maybe that matters now more than ever.
Final Thoughts
I walked away from this interview genuinely inspired.
Not just because of what the Playful Palette Foundation is doing for kids in White Rock and Surrey, but because of what these young leaders represent.
Initiative.
Creativity.
Optimism.
Community.
They saw a problem and instead of waiting for somebody older to fix it, they decided to build something themselves.
That deserves attention.
And honestly, it deserves support too.
💡 You can learn more about the Playful Palette Foundation or follow them on Instagram at @playfulpalettefoundation.
🚀 And if you’re a local business owner, entrepreneur, artist, or community leader with a story worth sharing, you can apply to be featured on The Best of White Rock here:
