We Day, We Act inspire capital region
One-day event featuring world-renowned speakers, performers celebrates year-round efforts of young change-makers
We Day celebrates the power of youth to create positive change in their local and global communities. This series of stadium-sized events have swept across the nation since 2007—even making its U. S. debut in Seattle last month.
On Monday, the movement arrives in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
“We are thrilled to bring We Day to our nation’s capital for the first time,” said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children. “National We Day will bring together students from across the country, and we can’t wait to see what this group of changemakers will be inspired to do in their communities and around the world.”
The first We Day ignited a spark for change in 8,000 youth in Toronto. Today, in 11 cities across North America, We Day directly impacts more than 160,000 student leaders each year.
Take All Saints Catholic High School students from Ottawa Catholic School Board, where even the youngest students in the school— from Grades 7 and 8—are leading the charge. “They like to help and want to show that even as a 12- or 13-year-old they can do something to help the world,” says Sarah Abrams, an educator at the school.
And these youth are on a mission. From organizing penny drives and supporting local families with Christmas hampers every year, to raising money for global causes, students at All Saints are driven to make the world better.
They aren’t the only ones. On April 29 at the Robert Guertin Centre, students from All Saints Catholic High School will join 4,000 other young changemakers to celebrate their commitment to service.
This passionate dedication is what makes We Day more than just a one-day event. We Day goes hand-in-hand with We Act, a free, comprehensive year-long program designed to enhance a school’s existing service learning initiatives while also sparking new ones. Groups take on one local and one global action and report back to Free The Children to earn their way to We Day.
Using We Act tools, campaigns and educational resources, All Saints Catholic High School focused their global actions on raising money to build a school in a Free The Children community in India. And their commitment and passion has not gone unnoticed.
“Schools like All Saints are the catalyst for student action,” says Kielburger. “And that’s what makes the We Act program come alive.”
To help schools fulfill their commitment to We Act, the program provides easily accessible campaigns, educational materials, youth coordinator support, and engagement opportunities to spur student action on any cause or issue they care about.
“It’s inspiring to me to see these teenagers who have such compassion for others and who genuinely want to make a difference,” says Abrams. “For me, the best part is to meet with them every week and see their enthusiasm for service.”
Learn more about We Day and We Act at weday.com.