M’CHIGEENG—In 1995, a 12-year-old Thornhill boy, along with 11 of his school friends, gathered to start an organization called Free the Children. Craig Kielburger had read a story in the Toronto Star about Iqbal Masih of India who became a slave at the age of four. Iqbal died speaking out for children’s rights and Craig was moved to do something about the plight of youngsters who had been sold into slavery. From that small beginning, the organization grew to be an international charity comprised of more than 2.3 million youth.
In 2008, Craig, along with his brother Marc, started the Me to We organization, a for-profit enterprise from which half the monies made go to Free the Children. With support from entertainers such as Nelly Furtado, Demi Lovato, Jennifer Hudson and the Jonas Brothers, the association sells bracelets, necklaces and other pieces sourced from around the world.
On September 30 two members of Me to We travelled from Toronto to M’Chigeeng to speak to the students of Manitoulin Secondary School about making change in their communities. Amanda Wand and O’Neil Gaudet spoke of the need for students to take action in their own neighbourhood with a talk entitled ‘Give Where you Live.’
Ms. Wand and Mr. Gaudet began by telling the students that they are passionate about their work with Me to We Free the Children and told a little about themselves. Ms. Wand, of Gananoque, is a farm pageant winner, won a restaurant service award as the best server in Ontario and is opening at an art gallery in New York City in February. Mr. Gaudet, formerly of Massachusetts, moved to Toronto a year ago and loves Canada. The couple has worked in Ecuador and Nicaragua in the past, but are now speaking across Canada about the need for people to help their own neighbourhood. “To have the power, will and drive to help your community,” Mr. Gaudet told the students. “When someone gives something, there is a gain to both the giver and the community,” Mr. Gaudet explained. “There is pride, sense of purpose and being bigger than yourself.”
Mr. Gaudet went on to explain that he and Ms. Wand were able to travel to M’Chigeeng with the support of telecommunications company TELUS, the first Canadian company to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation and thus win a global award in 2010.
Mr. Gaudet also told the audience that people who give are 42 percent happier than people who don’t and that there are scientific reasons why giving makes one feel good. “When you give,” he said, “you get a glimpse of how perfect you are.”
“Everyone has something they are passionate about,” Ms. Wand added, as she went on to talk about what bothers people from bullying, poverty, human rights, animal rights and mental health issues. Ms. Wand explained that in Canada, one in three students will experience bullying, 3 million people have mental health issues of which only one in five will receive the help they need, one in five youth live in poverty and 100,000 youth are homeless.
The couple explained that there are many things youth can do to make their communities a better place. “Pick up trash, ask a new student to sit with you, hold an adopt a dog day, meet with your local representative and volunteer” were some of the ideas given to the MSS students. “Volunteering is a surprising fun way to spend your time and meet good people. Volunteering and giving to your community is the best. And defines who you are”
“Never underestimate the power of your actions on others,” Mr. Gaudet added.
The couple outlined three ways to give including do a local action for your community and take a picture, log actions and get points for your school at TELUS Wise, change your world 365 days a year and download the App We365 and thirdly, take action by attending the leadership camps run all summer by Me to We throughout Canada.
The duo also talked of some of the actions people had taken in their communities including the fact that Ms. Wand held a love rally to stop homophobic words and actions where she lives, Trisha Prabhu of Chicago, a 13-year-old, became a finalist in Google’s Global Science Fair for her project on how to stop cyber bullying and two young girls started a taxi service for people who had been drinking.
“The decision is yours,” Mr. Gaudet added in closing, “the outcome is everyone’s.”
