Imagine 18,000 students coming together and celebrating the power of young people to create positive change in the world. It was WE DAY and it happened on September 27 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. This was the first of five WE DAY events which will be held in the coming months across Canada – Vancouver, Waterloo, Winnipeg, and Montreal.
WE DAY kicks off a year-long program called the We Schools in Action program. Each school group in attendance had to pledge to do one local and one global action. No tickets were sold to the event – students had to earn the right to be there. In fact, during the 2010 / 2011 school year, WE DAY inspired 1.7 million volunteer hours!
Highlights from the show
WE DAY always has a blend of OMG-worthy celebrities and inspirational speakers – this year’s festivities in Toronto were hosted by musician and actor Joe Jonas and actress Nina Dobrev. The show opened with a welcome from MuchMusic VJ, Jesse Giddings. Then, Shawn Desman led the crowd in the We Day Dance, which was repeated several times throughout the show to keep the crowd pumped. Later in the show, Nikki Yanofsky performed and spoke to the crowd saying, “I am here because I believe in the power of we.” Other performers included Nelly Furtado, Shawn Desman, and Neverest.
As well, speakers such as Spencer West, Rick Hansen, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION’s Munro Chambers and Aislinn Paul, and of course, Free The Children co-founders and brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger spoke to the crowd. Their inspiring words encouraged and educated the crowd and motivated them to take action to help make local and global differences.
During the show, Nelly Furtado made a HUGE announcement. She is donating $1,000,000 to Free the Children to help fund new programs, including a new all-girls boarding secondary school in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya.
As the day came to a close, teenage hearts were set on fire as co-host Joe Jonas performed his hit single “See No More” as the final number. Then, the show ended and Nina Dobrev asked, “Are you ready to change the world?”
(Neverest. Credit: Antoine Biko)
After they wrapped up on stage, THE MAGAZINE had the chance to talk to performers Neverest and Nelly Furtado about WE DAY and their charity efforts.
Neverest
Do you have a favourite ‘we’ moment to share?
Paul: What just happened right now. Being on that stage and being part of all that energy was definitely 100% the best part.
Spee: I don’t know if that can be topped, the crowd was unbelievable.
We Day is a very inspiring and motivating day. How do you think youth can keep the movement going?
Brendan: Keep pushing this movement. It shouldn’t be only today. I think it should be every day.
Paul: Every day is ‘We Day’.
Spee: Be the change, be the change that you want to see in the world. Lead by example. That’s a phenomenal mentality to take. To see the youth of today being a part of such a great cause is amazing. [They are] developing great habits for the future.
Mike: It’s great that all these people can unite under the same banner, the same cause and really push for the same thing and such a positive outcome.
Nelly Furtado
Your recent trip to Kisaruni with Free the Children and Artbound was filmed and made into a documentary that aired on CTV – NELLY FURTADO: THE ROAD TO KISARUNI. Do you have a favourite memory to share from your trip?
Nelly: Meeting Susan. When I met her, I just knew she was really powerful and she symbolized the whole trip for me. Now, we are part of each other’s stories. I think that this is what the program is about: it’s about girls in different places coming together with similar issues. I see the same drive in Susan’s class in Kisaruni that I do in my own daughter when my daughter wants to be the first person in school in the morning. I see that drive, I see that dedication to learning and the fire that education ignites inside of you.
Do you want to help? Here are some ideas:
1. On October 31st participate in the Halloween for Hunger project. Take to the street not collecting candy, but non-perishable food items for local food banks. To learn more visit: http://www.freethechildren.com/halloweenforhunger
2. On November 30th, join tens of thousands of people in taking a Vow of Silence – be silent and stand up for children whose rights are not being recognized. The silence can be not talking, not texting, or not communicating at all. Then, fundraise to spread awareness. To learn more visit: http://www.freethechildren.com/vow
3. Show your support through fashion and purchase an item such as a shirt or bracelet from the Me to We shop. To shop visit: http://www.metowe.com/shop/store
4. ‘Like’ the WE DAY page on Facebook! 1 like = $1! http://www.facebook.com/weday
Make sure you watch the WE DAY event on MuchMusic October 30th at 7pm ET/PT!