Eleven-year-old boy embodies community values of WE Day
Grade 6 student’s work to help homeless earns spot on stage at this year’s event
In the past few years, Zac Weinberg has been busy.
His volunteer efforts have included raising money and participating in Kendra’s Walk, a cancer fundraising event in his hometown of Winnipeg, and carrying an 18-kilogram clay pot filled with water on his head in 38 C heat in a village in Rajasthan, India, as part of a WE Walk for Water Campaign.
After his family moved out west, Zac kept on giving back by starting an ambitious project to help Vancouver’s estimated 2,100 homeless people through Coast Mental Health.
What’s remarkable is that Zac has done all this and he’s only 11 years old. The Grade 6 student at West Vancouver’s Collingwood School is passionate on the subject of homelessness.
“Many people treat the homeless as if they are invisible. They drive by and they look away, which I find a little disgusting,” he said.
“These are real people who lack basic human needs. They need help.”
Four years ago, Zac took part in his first WE Day event.
This year, he’ll be on stage next Tuesday at WE Day Vancouver with Harold Munro, editor-in-chief of The Vancouver Sun and The Province.
Zac said he shared inspirational WE stories with his classmates by bringing Spencer West to his school two years ago. West is a WE Day motivational speaker and author who lost his legs at age five, but was still able to climb Mount Kilimanjaro using his hands and a wheelchair.
Even though Zac can’t volunteer for Coast Mental Health because of his age, that didn’t stop him from starting his project to help the homeless.
After working with CMH outreach staff, Zac drafted a list of items that 600 homeless people living on the street might need while waiting for low-cost housing.
They include personal items such as wool socks and toothbrushes along with practical items such as reusable plastic water bottles and emergency blankets. He’s calling the kit a “ZacPac.”
Zac, a member of WE’s Youth Advisory Committee, described mental health as a big part of many social problems, including homelessness.
“It is estimated that 44 per cent of the homeless have a diagnosed mental health issue — and that’s diagnosed,” he said. “It’s a huge issue for the homeless and society in general due to stigma attached to mental health and the overall lack of available resources.”
Craig Kielburger, WE Charity co-founder, said it has been inspiring to see Zac contribute to WE’s Youth Advisory Committee and support initiatives across the organization.
“From his work with clean water projects overseas through WE Walk for Water, to his efforts toward combating homelessness in his local community, we’re grateful for youth like Zac who continue to champion for change and inspire their peers to get involved,” Kielburger said by email.
WE Day Vancouver takes place Nov. 19 at Rogers Arena. An estimated 20,000 students attending the event will have earned their way to WE Day by taking action on one local and one global cause of their choice. Performers and celebrity speakers this year include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Hansen and Serena Ryder.