Tag Archives: Me to We

We Day Toronto Here I Come!

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We Day Toronto is fast approaching and I could not be more excited for it! Last year’s We Day was so amazing so I am pumped to be able to attend again this year!

What Is We Day?

In case you didn’t already know, We Day is an annual concert/pep-rally organized by Free the Children to commend youth for taking action throughout the year and to inspire them to continue making a difference throughout the whole year. Famous celebrities and inspiring people take the stage to inspire the kids. Instead of paying to go to We Day, you earn it. Tons of schools across Canada and the United States take action throughout the year to try to earn a spot. We Day Toronto is not the only event that will be taking place – many other We Days will take place across Canada, the United States, and even England.

Who Will Be Coming To We Day Toronto 2015?

The lineup for We Day Toronto was just announced today and it seems amazing!

Demi Lovato – Singer, songwriter and actress

Hozier – Award-winning singer and songwriter

Nick Jonas – Multi-talented recording artist and actor

Shawn Mendes – Award-winning singer and songwriter

Carly Rae Jepsen –  Multi-platinum GRAMMY nominated singer and songwriter

Earvin “Magic” Johnson – NBA legend, two time Hall-of-Famer, entrepreneur and philanthropist

Nina Dobrev – Award winning actress

Hedley – Multi-platinum, Juno and MMVA Award-winning recording artists and Free The Children ambassadors

Tavi Gevinson – Editor-in-Chief of Rookie Magazine

Kiesza – Singer and multi-instrumentalist

Marlee Matlin – Academy Award-winning actress and devoted social activist

Henry Winkler – Actor, director, producer, and author

Kardinal Offishall – Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador

Francesco Yates – Canadian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist

Silken Laumann – Olympian, inspirational speaker, author and child advocate

Micheal “Pinball” Clemons – CFL Hall of Famer, Vice Chair of the Toronto Argonauts

Joseph Boyden – Novelist and short-story writer

Spencer West – Me to We motivational speaker, Free The Children ambassador and author

Liz Trinnear – ETALK reporter and Much host, and co-host of We Day Toronto

Tyrone Edwards – E! and Much host, speaker

Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra – Members of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra

Craig and Marc Kielburger – International Activists and co-founders of We Day

Elliot Miville-Deschènes – Actor, singer, and activist

Alex Deans – Innovative youth artist, inventor, and leader

Chris Studor – Co-Founder of the Get REAL Movement

Leanne Prendergast – Founder and President of Love Our Lives

Dextrous One – 7 year-old DJ who holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s youngest DJ

Tonika Morgan – Motivational speaker and social change activist

Annaliese Carr – Award-winning author, inspirational speaker, and youngest person to swim across Lake Ontario

Ryan Scheel Dance Group – Toronto Dance Crew led by dancer and choreograoher Ryan Scheel

The lineup for next Thursday sounds fantastic!

Will YOU be attending We Day Toronto? Tell me in the comments below.

Thanks for joining me on my journey to change the world!

–Diviya

My Experience At Take Action Camp!

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This past weekend I came back from Take Action Camp bursting with excitement and passion about changing the world. Located in Bethany, Ontario, Take Action Camp is a Free The Children camp that centers around one idea – that we, the young people, have the power to change the world.

What made it so special? Below is a list of my top 5 memories.

New Friends: I went into the camp knowing absolutely no one, and I have to admit, I was a bit nervous at first. However, at camp everyone was so nice, inclusive, and caring. What was cool for me was that i got to meet people who were like-minded and were just as passionate as me about changing the world. By the end of the week, the 80 of us were like a close-knit family and we were all sad to say goodbye.

Minga Games: When we came to camp we were all put into different colour teams, and throughout the week we got to participate in really fun challenges. The games we did were all super fun and entertaining and each group really learned to work as a team.

Special Meals: Throughout the week we had two special meals that really opened our eyes and made us realize how fortunate we are. For one of the meals we were put into “families” and were given what a typical family that visits a food bank would receive. (We ate rice, beans, bread, and tomato soup.) Another meal we had was called the “Hassienda Dinner” where we learned about the Hassienda system that took place in Ecuador where the Spanish came in and took away their rights and culture. 10 campers were randomly chosen to represent the Spanish and sit at the head table. They were given burgers, pasta, and drinks. However, the rest of us only got food if we turned our shirts around, sang my little tea-pot and sat on the floor. For some of us, it was frustrating to have to do those little things so it was crazy to imagine what the Ecuadorians must have gone through and are still going through.

Coaching sessions: Each day at camp we did three coaching sessions with the facilitators. In the issues sessions we talked about current issues, what we care about, and how we can make the world a better place. The Reflecting sessions focused on reflecting on yourself as a person and understanding who you are. Finally, the Leadership section focused on understanding different points of view, public speaking skills, and learning how to be a good leader.

Take Action Day: Take Action Day was a day where we got to take everything we had been learning and put it into action. We had the option of volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, the Christie-Ossington Centre, and the Free The Children offices. I chose to go to the Free The Children offices where were given a tour and we helped paint bricks for the community garden.

Overall, my week living Me to We was absolutely amazing and thanks to all the people there who made my week so awesome!

Thanks for joining me on my journey to change the world!

 -Diviya