Quietly disappeared but mostly suicide and overdosing?
Recently, I spoke with Dawn Johnson. Her son had been there—and what happened to him is devastating. After years of doing everything he could to please them, it was still never enough. She told me that in the rare moments they were able to communicate, he confided that he hated what he had to endure, especially the psychological strain and the forced encounters. But he pushed through because he genuinely wanted to succeed.
He was there as the store shutdown and work forces were mostly transferred to agricultural work:
https://www.todayinbc.com/news/volkens-store-in-surrey-bought-by-terra-group
Even before that, someone had been gored by a water buffalo.
Don't worry though, the owners "spoke out" about it:
https://globalnews.ca/news/11097945/volken-academy-responds-allegations-treatment/
Instead, his job was taken from him, promises were broken, and even before the shutdown there were clear signs of mistreatment—like being made to work all day in a hayfield with only one small sandwich. Others have shared similar accounts. If you search the anonymous corners of the internet, places like Reddit, you’ll find more stories quietly echoed by people who are too afraid to step forward.
One death is too many.
To this day, no remorse: https://globalnews.ca/video/11098382/john-volken-academy-defends-treatment-of-residents
To this day, No Ragrets:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17Rwf7gtbm/
"An emotional John Volken said his #Langley farm will keep operating, but he has sold the #Surrey site where a recovery centre with his name operated until it was recently shut down by the provincial Ministry of Health.
"I keep on saying they crucified the Savior," Volken told a Monday, March 25 press conference at the centre, his voice shaking.
"What bad did he do?"
Volken said his charitable foundation will continue to operate its Langley farm, which operates an agricultural program at at 23480 40 Ave. that employs a number of Academy graduates, but does not run a recovery program.
"It's a good life," Volken said of the farm.
"They [the workers] live there. They progress there. They learn trades. And, you know, we have a store there. We have a lot of buffalo, bison, chickens, pigs. And it's an awesome life."
A number of former students of the academy attended the press conference to praise Volken, who also displayed a box full of letters from families and firmer clients, expressing gratitude.
Twelve people remain at the Surrey centre, John Volken Academy (JVA) manager Andrea Chambers said, but they will be taking a work-life skills program.
"We took #addiction #recovery out of the program," Chambers advised.
While the property has just been sold, the deal doesn't close for a year, Chambers explained." #BC
[read more at: saanich news . com / news]"
The Hero: Why No One Wants To Believe Us
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/177WBkviNL/
This is our founder, John Volken.
Driven by the desire to help those in need, he sold his business and transferred all of the proceeds to the John Volken Foundation in 2004.
Among other charities he founded, Volken formed Lift the Children after seeing firsthand the terrible plight of many orphans on his trip to Africa.
He created a foundation with core values of providing necessities and training to become self-sufficient, as well as working to integrate the kids into family and community-based care.
#founder #charity #nonprofit #liftthechildren #support #givingback #johnvolken #johnvolkenfoundation #johnvolkenacademy
#SuicideAwareness #OD #MentalHealth #PunitiveAtmospheres