Pennies for change
Canadians are making their last coppers count
The penny is officially out of circulation, but with more than 70 million pennies collected so far through Free The Children’s We Create Change campaign, Canadians are proving that the little penny is still worth a mint.
We Create Change—launched this past fall—is made possible with the support of RBC, a key partner in the campaign, as branches across the country continue to accept donated pennies. The campaign supports Free The Children’s year-long drive to bring sustainable sources of clean water to 100,000 people in developing communities. By National We Day on April 29, the organization hopes to collect at least 100 million pennies—which will have an incredible impact on communities overseas.
“Clean water isn’t a luxury— it’s a basic human right,” says Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children.
With the millions of pennies collected so far, We Create Change proves that small contributions can add up to a big difference. In fact, if you stacked 70 million pennies atop one another, they would reach the height of 1,100 Peace Towers. But the real value of these pennies is the impact they’ll have—$700,000 is enough to provide a permanent source of clean water for 28,000 people. Free The Children estimates that $25 can give one person clean water for life, by supporting the construction of sustainable clean water projects such as wells and rain-catchment systems.
It’s a message students at Westmeath Public School have taken to heart. Although just 69 students attend the elementary school in Renfrew County, they have made waves with their We Create Change campaign.
It all started with a penny drive. But the students—aware of the challenges faced by millions overseas who don’t have access to clean water—were determined to make a big impact. So they held assemblies and fundraisers, wrote letters home, and advertised in their community of 600. It wasn’t long before they had raised more than $700—enough to provide 30 people with clean water for life.
“When we announced the final tally over the PA system you could hear kids cheering all over the school. I think they were quite proud of themselves!” says Shelley Cliche, Westmeath’s principal. “We’re a very small, rural school and students are very family-oriented. So they really feel that what they’re doing is an extension of our family—trying to help kids in other countries.”
And Westmeath students are just one of countless groups of kids across Canada who know that simple, everyday actions, no matter how small, can add up to global impact. And that every penny, every action and every young person counts.
To be a part of the campaign, visit freethechildren.com/wecreatechange and order your penny bag(s). Bags can only contain pennies and can be dropped off at a local RBC branch. Only full bags will be accepted. Use account #1001437 and branch number #01265 when depositing your pennies.