We Day is an event like no other. You simply can’t buy a ticket to attend We Day, you must earn it. Young people across Canada earn their way into the event through service by taking action on at least one local and one global issue throughout the school year.
We Day Kitchener attendees attended free of charge thanks to the generous support of Regional Title Sponsor RIM and presenting sponsor, RBC. What an event it was! I get such a charge at seeing these bright young individuals get inspired by the speakers at this event. It’s proof that we’ve made the shift to do our part to make a difference.
Since I’ve shared video in the past about Canada’s largest penny drive at We Day Toronto, which supports Free the Children’s year-long water initiative to provide 100,000 people with permanent sources of clean water, I want to share with you how We Day supports domestic initiatives.
Free the Children‘s domestic programming is focused on youth engagement and inspiring leaders to pursue positive change at home and abroad.
In the past school year alone (September 2011 to June 2012), youth involved in Free The Children’s year long programming have achieved remarkable, measurable social change results:
- $3.5 million raised to support a variety of international causes
- $2.5 million raised for local initiatives and organizations
- 1.7 million volunteer hours logged
- 833,500 lbs of foodcollected to support local food banks in communities across Canada
- 1.3 millionhours of silence logged by youth who stood up for children in developing communities silenced by poverty and exploitation.
I feel so proud to be a parent in this day and age knowing that our children are working that much harder to be the change that this world so desperately needs. As a family, we have dedicated ourselves to contributing every penny to the Free the Children Penny Initiative this year, as well as getting involved in one local issue to support.
As a family, how do you contribute to your community? I know I’ve been slacking, but We day has inspired me to become the person I should have been many years ago.
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