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(I took the video) WE Day was one of the best experiences of my life. It was amazing to be surrounded by a room of people who truly wanted to make a difference in the world. One of the best parts was seeing our WE club having our video shown on the screen. Here it is!! I hope you get inspired!

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1. How did you get involved with WE?I have been working with service-learning groups for most of my career but had never been introduced to WE until I came to CA.  About fours years ago I had a contact in the mayor's office who tipped me off about this great organization. 2. What have you the idea to start a WE lunch club?I started the club because I didn't want people to feel like they would have to keep taking the major.  I think the major would be better served to educate, and I am hoping the lunchtime club will take on the service projects starting next year. 3. Where are you hoping to take the We club to? Like what are you hoping the kids get out of I️t?One of my favorite things about being involved in these types of clubs is hearing about students leaving and starting clubs there or just generally being involved.  There is a lot of apathy in this world, so Iif I can help inspire kids to be active that is what it is about. 4. What lessons are you hoping will come out this club?A couple of things.  The first is that everybody wins when people are helping each other, working for the welfare of animals and the environment, and learning about important issues that impact our future.  There is a lot going on in Middle school and sometimes it's hard to step back and look at the big picture.  Heck, it's hard for me, but ultimately the smartest thing we can do as humans is to take care of each other and take care of this the only home we currently have.   The second is that's it's okay to feel good about yourself for doing good, and also that it will help you build your future.  Real service-learning projects ask people to gather information, think critically about an issue and collaborate.  These are essential life skills, and they don't look to shabby on an application or resume, either.  5. What do you like about WE?Organizations like WE that offer free resources to schools and work to educate students and teachers are really shaping the future of education.  I see a time where the most successful schools are built around service learning.  With the shift in education that focuses now on ideas like WEBB's Depth of Knowledge and Bloom's Taxonomy, service learning fits nicely into that package.  Students are thinking at the highest levels, learning how to research and communicate, and giving back to their communities all at the same time. Personally, Working in a middle school and being tied a bit by the confines of our schedule there are challenges, but when it's good it's good.  I love interacting with the public and helping people in need, working with animals and being out in the natural world, so it's not really like work to me, but that's not the best part.  The best part is passing on those ideals and the importance of giving back.  When we met Jane Goodall last year and I was able to experience that with not only the club, but my own children, well, I can't even put that into words.  Our WE Day experiences have also been out of this world. Mind blowing, really. I really do love to see students be rewarded and being able to have those experiences, yet I would have to say the best part of it all is watching kids have fun on their actual service days.  When kids are having fun at a beach cleanup, or a Thanksgiving Breakfast, or delivering things to people or animals in need, well, that is pretty satisfying because I know they get it, and that the world will be a little better place because of that. 6. What was your favorite project you did with WE and why? I love to watch ideas spill over into action, and I love to watch students take ownership over that.  Projects that students feel passionate about and work hard for are the most rewarding for me.Each year is unique and different, so I don't think I could point to one project because there are so many different ways to measure success and impact.  Sometimes the smallest things we get involved with have the biggest impact, and sometimes we take on a project that is too big to finish, but along the way we learn important things and important lessons.  That is okay, too, I think. Of course,  a true service learning project involves a few critical steps and is more than just a day of community service, so as long as we are trying to approach it in that way, and students are working together, as well as understanding what that means it's all good. So to answer your question, I guess all of those are my favorite.

(Mr. Gray)

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When I first got involved with WE, I was introduced to the idea to use the equation problem + passion = change. Think of a list of things you are passionate about and another list of issues you are passionate about in this world. Then, think of something that involves the two things. For example if you want to raise money so stray dogs can get medicine, and love to bake, then you could bake dog treats to sell to raise money for that important cause.

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Lilly Singh is someone that not only is using her platform for good but truly is an amazing person as you can see from her trip to Kenya. She really wants to help WE create change. She has spoken at WE DAy and has created her own line of Rafiki's to support girls education through her #Girls Love ( video from the youtube channel Lilly Singh)

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WE youth trips!

WE offers multiple youth trips for people all across the world. There are seven main trips: The Amazon, India, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Each one dives into the culture, environment, and food of these incredible countries. The trip to the amazon offers a trip to its capital Quito to the waterway that feeds into the world's second largest river and everything in between. You’ll work with alongside of locals to make a development project and travel and learn about communities in the rainforest. The trip to India allows you to see amazing mountains and breathtaking lakes. You also do a volunteer project alongside the community members to try to help solve social issues. For the trip to Ecuador you will see the Andes mountains and volunteer with the local women’s group to help a new school or help provide clean water. The trip to Nicaragua is my favorite. There’s beautiful beaches, volcanoes, the rainforest that will take your breath away. You will learn the colonial history and plan an amazing project. Then there is a trip to Kenya where you will help make bracelets and make connections that will last a lifetime. You will also do a sustainable development project. In Tanzania, your trip Starts when you will learn about the region's culture and history and do a traditional try tea while exploring the Savannah. Lastly there is Ethiopia. This is the newest me to we trip that teaches you all about it’s geography and you work to create a sustainable development project. Each and every one of these trips are so cool and unique and teach you so much about culture all over the world. The trips cost on an average $3000-$4000 and you can learn all about these trips at WE.org.

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We is a Organization Founded by Marc and Craig Kielburger that focus on empowering youth to make a  difference. Just at the young age of 12 Marc Kielbuger started We because of a story he heard on the news.  Iqbal Masih, a 12-year-old former child slave in Pakistan, had been murdered because he spoke up for human rights. He knew he wanted to help and started We Charity along with 12 other of his fellow classmates. Now We has thousands of people world wide making an impact. “If you give kids the inspiration and tools to change the world, it will change their own lives in the process.”Craig Kielburger

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I have done multiple projects with my WE group at school and I know that a lot of people want to make a difference but don’t know how. WE makes it really easy to plan a project. Here are the main steps:

1.Using the previous post use the problem + passion = change to come up with your project

2.Create a timeline starting with research, to getting a date, all the way up to the day of your event and/or the day you start doing your project. Remember to know what your end goal is. Is it to raise money for children in africa who need clean water? Or is to plan a march for equality. Knowing your end goal can help you work your way to that goal.

3.After you have planned out your plan, you are ready to get started on your PROJECT!

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This is the dance that thousands of people are doing all over the world to celebrate WE day! This is a really easy to sing and dance along to! So join in on the WE day fun!( video from the WE Youtube channel)

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Rafiki Bracelets are made by women all over the world. Each bracelet is for an important issue such as water and education. People buy these bracelets to support these issues and WE. ( Image from http://aps.tldsb.on.ca/2017/05/14/we-team-rafiki-bracelets/ )

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A little background on the We movement. We wants to make a huge impact on the world and they need your help! Here is a little back story on WE and how it all began......    (video from WE.org)

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This is a video that can give you an idea about WE!!

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Over the years, we’ve discovered that it’s far more important to reach as many people as possible—especially youth—and empower them with the knowledge that it’s not up to anyone else, it’s up to them to make a difference.

Graig Kielburger

This quote goes to show that WE have the power to make a difference. We have to be the generation to make a difference WE want to see in the world. WE makes it really easy to help out and make a difference no matter our age or abilities. 

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We uses 5 pillars to make an impact in villages. WE villages works all over the world to break the cycle of poverty. The 5 pillars include access to clean water, education, opportunity, food, and health. By providing villages with these five things villages can restart and create a community that can survive. Kids can go to school and can go to bed full. WE villages is making an impact on village at a time. ( photos from WE.org )

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City’s Take on WE walk for Water

The City School is doing a walk to support this important cause. On April 27th, The City School will be walking around the school with water jugs to educate the community about this pressing issue. Young girls across the world walk for water, thus they can’t get an education. Students will take sifts and walk with jugs and signs to raise awareness. Kids will carry two jugs, one in each hand and lap the school three times. When I experienced this, my hands cramped and my back hurt. I did this for 15 minutes. These girls do this for hours upon hours a day just to get a gallon of water. Think about what you use water for. I use water for my garden, washing my hands, showering, drinking and brushing my teeth. Now that’s a lot of water and that's just me! I am in a family of four so multiply all of these activities by four. Thats a lot of water! Spencer West is just like everybody else, except for the fact that he has no legs. Now this hasn’t stopped him at all! He climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money water wells. Now he has started We Walk for Water which is a global campaign. WE is hoping to provide over 50,000 people with access to clean water. All the proceeds thats City makes will go to WE walk for water. What can you do to make a difference? How can you change the lives of others?

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We walk for water is a global campaign that works to the improve the lives of people who walk hours a day to get water. Young women are not able to go to school and families are getting sick from this unhealthy water. WE is hoping to provide over 50,000 people with clean water for life and has already provided over 1,000,000 people with access to clean water. Just 25 dollars gives one person clean water for life. Join Spencer West in trying to make a difference and provide fresh water for thousands of people. ( Image from We.org)