Me To We

 I had never heard about this exciting program until my grand daughter Darcy became involved with the movement. She embraced the Me to We program and became a believer to the point where she attended a leadership academy one summer and spirited her school chums to become involved in building a school in Costa Rica. She was so enthusiastic that her feelings motivated many with whom she connected. She travelled to Costa Rica and was involved in the actual construction of the school.

Her mother was struck with the same magic as this movement is contagious arising from a humble beginning with two Canadian boys - Craig and Marc Kielburger - who had an idea to create change - to world recognition within a few years.This movement is a young people's thing with raw commitment to become leaders, agents of change and contribute to society by being a citizen of the world. It appears to be a youth thing at first sight but becomes a people thing where everyone has value and helping people to reach their own potential is important. Started 15 years ago as Free the Children by 12 year old Craig, the offshoot program Me to We has caught on to the extent that it now has world recognition.

Every year there is a We Day event held in cities across Canada and now spreading to the U.S. Thousands of young people and their teachers fill the Air Canada Center and are inspired by celebrities, social justice speakers and musical performers and reaffirm their commitment to "be the change". My daughter was an early believer and travelled to Kenya with Darcy to volunteer, school build and learn about the challenges faced by the people there. She is committed and preaches the word when possible. It has become a family thing and another of my grand daughters went to the Free the Children leadership academy this summer and claims it was a moving program and a life changer. Darcy interned for We to Me this summer and will always be a follower of this movement.

I have been brain washed and have written about this youth movement on occasion. Oprah W. had the Kielburgers on her program and they were a big hit; she strongly endorsed their work by sponsoring a program with FTC. While in Kenya my family members were inspired by the women  who were being empowered with the help of FTC and saw great potential in raising the level of education and life in general. I mentioned that women in particular were empowered because their skills were a source of economic value because the structure was put in place to sell their beautiful handmade artisan products in Canada and the USA.

If  I were a young person this movement would seriously challenge me to help make this world a better place. It captured my family's interest and I believe everyone who discovers this movement will be equally impressed. So Tuesday is We Day, do something that makes that Me  a We by sharing yourself with others.

Darcy learning the art to spackling at the Kisaruni Girls' School build in Kenya

Working on Kisaruni, first girls' residential secondary school in the Mara region.

Masaai women teaching their intricate beading techniques