Kids’ Health Links Foundation (KHLF) is a grassroots charity reliant on donor support to sustain its impactful programs. Our foundation was inspired by the experiences of two teenage friends, Christina Papaevangelou and Katy McDonald, whose stories reveal the pressing need for our services. In February 2002, Christina, a healthy teenager, fell critically ill with Toxic Shock Syndrome, a severe blood infection. Identified at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, she was quickly transferred to McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. After 48 hours in critical condition, Christina began to recover, but faced emotional and educational challenges from her extended hospital stay.

Soon after, Christina’s friend Katy, 16, was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. Despite initial treatment, Katy’s cancer returned as multiple brain tumors, necessitating surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant. Living an hour from SickKids Hospital in Toronto, Katy’s family struggled to keep her connected. At that time, social media was emerging, so her parents bought her a laptop, and she used dial-up internet to stay in touch via email and instant messaging. This connection was crucial, helping Katy maintain ties with friends, family, and school. Although Katy ultimately lost her battle with cancer, staying connected was vital for her emotional well-being.

Recognizing the common struggle of isolation for hospitalized youth, Christina and her father Basile founded Kids’ Health Links Foundation. In 2007, they launched Upopolis to address this need, offering a platform that keeps hospitalized and chronically ill youth in Canada connected with their loved ones.

Organization Mission

To empower adolescents living with chronic conditions, grief, mental health, and other life challenges, as well as their teachers and health professionals, by connecting them through inclusive communities of support and practice. We aim to enhance knowledge and improve care, health, and well-being.

The World Health Organization’s charter drives our Mission:

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Our programs improve lives and help youth (ages 13-23) cope with the daily challenges they may face.

We provide these services at no cost:

  • Private, Safe, Secure, and Moderated Communities: These enable peer-to-peer engagement to connect youth and teens facing life challenges with clinician moderators and youth mentors with lived experience to help them cope and live well.

  • Online Communities of Practice: These facilitate peer-to-peer engagement, knowledge exchange, education, and sharing of best practices for pediatric health care practitioners and child and youth mental health professionals.

Values

  • Compassion: Empathize with and care for lived experiences.

  • Collaboration: Partnerships and teamwork are the cornerstones of success.

  • Integrity: We say what we do and do what we say.

  • Passion: Deep belief and optimism in all we do.

  • Inclusion: Equitable access, diversity, and inclusion for all.