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Sprout
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Kitchener, ON

Crystal Yang

I am a third-year medical student and aspiring family physician based in Kitchener-Waterloo, with a special interest in addiction medicine, harm reduction and trauma-informed care. I am committed to strengthening community capacity to support health equity and safety for underserved populations.

KW Harm Reduction Connect

KW Harm Reduction Connect is a community-driven harm reduction initiative that responds to gaps created by the closure of supervised consumption and treatment sites in Kitchener–Waterloo. This project connects local harm-reduction organizations, peers with lived experience, and addiction care providers to expand access to safer-use supplies, outreach, and coordinated support. By strengthening existing services rather than duplicating them, this project promotes overdose prevention, health equity, and community safety.

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À propos de ce projet

Communautés servies

Voici les objectifs de développement durable associés à mon projet

    Les objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU

    Il est possible de catégoriser les projets à impact communautaire selon les objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.

      Le fonctionnement du projet

      Over a 4-6 month period, this project will coordinate community partners, engage peers with lived experience, assemble and distribute harm-reduction kits through volunteer-led outreach, and facilitate collaboration between existing services to address gaps created by recent site closures and improve overdose prevention.

      Résumé de l'impact

      This project will improve access to harm-reduction supports in Kitchener–Waterloo by distributing safer-use supplies, engaging peers with lived experience, and strengthening coordination among existing services. It aims to reduce overdose risk, empower individuals who use substances, and build a more connected, community-driven response to gaps created by recent service closures.

      Résumé de la mission

      The project’s mission is to strengthen harm-reduction capacity and overdose prevention in Kitchener–Waterloo by coordinating existing services, engaging peers with lived experience, and expanding access to safer-use supplies. Its goals are to reduce preventable harm, empower individuals who use substances, and build sustainable, community-led connections across addiction care and outreach services.

      Équipe du projet

      Team consists of medical students, staff/volunteers from Sanguen, and peers with lived experience.