WE-DAY... FREE THE CHILDREN - GM PLACE - VANCOUVER SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

VANCOUVER CANADA'S FIRST WE-DAY TOOK PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 AND FEATURED SUCH GUEST SPEAKERS AS HIS HOLINESS DALAI LAMA 14, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA, MICHAELLE JEAN, JANE GOODALL, MIA FARROW, SIR ROBERT GELDOF, ACTIVIST CRAIG KIELBURGER, ENTERTAINERS SARA MCLACHLINE, LOUISE DENT, JASON MRAZ AND MANY OTHERS.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD OF OVER 16,000 STUDENTS TOOK PART IN THE SHOW AND LEFT FEELING EMPOWERED. THE ABILITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND "BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO BE!" WAS STRESSED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. "CHANGE THE "ME" TO "WE" BECAME THE CATCH PHRASE FOR THE EVENT.

SINCE WE-DAY-FREE THE CHILDREN IS BASICALLY A FUND RAISING EVENT THAT TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD CONSTANTLY TO RAISE MONEY FOR PROJECTS OVERSEAS THAT WILL ALLOW CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LEAD A BETTER LIFE, EVENTUALLY THE SUBJECT OF WHAT STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE COULD DO TO FURTHER PEACE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW CAME UP.

ATTENDEE'S WERE ASKED TO PLEDGE THAT THEY WOULD ENDEAVOR TO RAISE A MINIMUM OF $10.00 EACH OR DEVOTE TEN HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO VOLUNTEER WORK TO HELP RAISE FUNDS TO BE FORWARDED TO WE-DAY FREE THE CHILDREN. OF COURSE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WISH TO DO MORE AND FUND RAISING EVENTS AND STRATEGIES WERE BEING DISCUSSED EVERYWHERE IN THE AUDIENCE. THE GOAL IS ONE MILLION DOLLARS AND ONE MILLION HOURS FOR VANCOUVER STUDENTS.

BELOW IS A VIDEO THAT WILL GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA THOUGHT OF WE-DAY FREE THE CHILDREN, CREATED BY JENNY MURRAY WHO WAS THERE! IT WILL GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF HOW BADLY OUR CHILDREN WANT TO TAKE PART IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR PEACE, HEALTH AND EQUALITY IN THE WORLD.

I URGE ALL OF YOU TO ATTEND A WE-DAY FREE THE CHILDREN EVENT IF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE TO MANY THINGS. ADULTS ARE WELCOME, PARTICULARLY EDUCATORS AND PUBLIC SERVICE MEMBERS WHO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE DAY 2009 VANCOUVER Jenny Murray this was a great event! changed my view on a lot of stuff! WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!

At the first Vancouver We Day, Free The Children founder Craig Kielburger joins world leaders, actors and musicians to lead over 16,000 youths in a call to action. Filmed on Sep 29, 2009 at GM Place Vancouver, the day included appearances by the Dalai Lama, Mia Farrow, Sarah McLachlan, Jason Mraz, Jane Goodall and more. Visit http://www.catherinebarr.com for complete story.

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THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO BUILD OR REBUILD 10 VILLAGES OVERSEAS THAT HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY WAR OR NATURAL DISASTERS. MIA FARROW SPOKE PARTICULARLY ABOUT DARFUR IN AFRICA AND TOLD THE CROWD THAT SHE WOULD TELL "HER PEOPLE" OVER THERE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL CANADIAN YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPPORTING WE-DAY FREE THE CHILDREN.
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PROJECTS LIKE THESE GET YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN WORLD EVENTS, RAISE THEIR AWARENESS ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY (AND THE ADULTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES) CAN COME UP WITH TO LET' THEM "BE THE CHANGE" THAT CHANGES THE LIVES OF VICTIMS OF WARS, FAMINES AND NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS EARTHQUAKES, TORNADOS AND OTHER WEATHER RELATED EVENTS. WE-FREE THE CHILDREN ACTUALLY GETS THEM OUT THERE DOING SOMETHING BESIDES "DROPPING A LOONIE IN A CAN."
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