Talk 'Bout: WE DAY 2012

BE THE CHANGE 2012

Jacob from HEDLEY at WE DAY Toronto 2012

For years, Free the Children has been making a difference worldwide! They've built schools, trained villagers, helped create a new source of income for the less fortunate, dug wells, planted fields--you name it they've done it. They've empowered a generation or two in the most positive of ways that they can change the future if they just try. They teach the young ones that you don't need millions of dollars to make a difference but one small, thing, something you may see as insignificant can change someone's life and thus a step toward changing the world.

In April 2012, I earned my ticket to WE DAY 2012. I said "earned" because you cannot buy a ticket for this amazing event. This is the day Free The Children and its sponsors come together and they celebrate young people doing good deeds. They have musical acts, special guests and so much more amazing things. For WE DAY Toronto, September 28, 2012 - they had Al Gore (An Inconvenient Truth, Former USA VP), Romeo Dallaird (humanitarian, former military), Martin Sheen (Charlie Sheen's Father), The Honourable Justice Sinclair, Spencer West (has no legs but he climbed Mt. Killamanjaro!) and so many more! Musical guests included Nelly Furtado, Shawn Desman, Hedley, K'Naan, Lil Jake....

Martin Sheen at WE DAY Toronto - 2012

Martin Sheen was the biggest surprise of the day. He was articulate and intelligent speaking from his generation's point of view. He spoke of how proud he was that the attendees of WE DAY were doing better than his generation. That they were taking the time out to help each other rather than tearing each other down. He apologised for his generation and the lack of a legacyc that they're leaving--Well the lack of a positive legacy. He said he was sorry the younger generation has to fix their screw ups. I was taken aback by that since no other adult has gone as far as to say they were sorry. Surely this generation didn't ruin the Ozone layer all by ourselves. He was funny and just brought the crowd to its feet when he was finished. There is just something about him that impressive.

Al Gore spoke about climate change but he was no less significant in the grand scheme of things. It goes along with the saying that you don't have to help another person to make a difference sometimes--plant a tree, pick up some trash, recycle...every little bit helps.

This year the message at WE DAY is BE THE CHANGE. What does that mean? They explained it as this - Do not just wish the world was different. Do not sit and wait for others to make the world better. Get up, go out there and BE better.