WE Day

W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S S P E C I A L F E AT U R E | S AT U R D AY, O C T O B E R 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 6 WATCHTHEWEDAYBROADCAST ExperienceCanada'smostexcitingyoutheventforlocalandglobalchange, featuringanincrediblelineupofspeakersandperformers! PREMIERINGON MTV:Tuesday,November11,2014at5p.m.PT|8p.m.ET CTV:Saturday,November22,2014at4p.m.PT|7p.m.ET MADE POSSIBLE BY BROADCAST PARTNER University of Winnipeg student discovers passion for development issues By Kimberly Lochhead F ranzi Schimpf understands that social issues aren't confined to specific countries. When she was 12 years old, she emigrated from Germany to Morden, Manitoba with her family. In her German town of Hamm, and on the streets of downtown Winnipeg, Franzi has witnessed the prevalence of homelessness, an issue that moved her as a young girl. "There was a man in Germany who was homeless by choice and he really inspired me to think differently about the world around me," says Franzi. At first, she was scared to approach him, but she soon found that he was a nice man and she quickly grew to admire him. "His family was wealthy but he rejected that lifestyle to raise awareness about homelessness because he saw too many people without a roof over their head. He lived on the streets for nine years, just to make a point." This summer, Franzi made another important journey, travelling over 2,000 kilometres from Manitoba to Me to We's Take Action Camp in Bethany, Ont. And it was here that she found the motivation to channel her passion for the issue of poverty into tangible action. Geared to campers ages 9 to 18, Take Action Camp offers leadership training, team-building and social issues workshops alongside activities like campfires, sports and games. Throughout the week, Franzi and her fellow camp participants explored a range of local and global issues and how to use their unique skills and talents to take action on the causes they're passionate about. "I gained the confidence to speak up thanks to Take Action Camp," says Franzi. "It's really rewarding to share my experiences." While at camp, she formed strong friendships with other like-minded youth and learned to think critically about social issues. After exchanging ideas with her peers on ways to tackle these issues and listening to facilitators explain Free The Children's Adopt a Village development program, her interest in international development grew. Inspired by the charity's initiatives, Franzi wanted to make an impact overseas herself by fundraising to build a school in a Free The Children community. With all of these experiences under her belt, the 18-year-old is now taking the next big step in her life with help from the action plan she developed at Take Action Camp. This September, she enrolled at the University of Winnipeg's international development program where she's pursuing her dream to help lift others out of poverty. "I learned so much about myself in just that week at camp and now I know exactly what I want to do as a career." W hat's in a number? A lot of change — even if that number is relatively small. Let's start with three; the magic number of the online fundraising platform Change Heroes. Spearheaded by Vancouver's Taylor Conroy, Change Heroes uses the simple model of one person rallying their network of 33 friends to give $3.33 a day for three months, raising $10,000 to build a school in a developing country. "Some people haven't had that moment where they've made profound change and aren't aware that they can do it from their laptop," says Conroy. "We're passionate about empowering people to make a massive difference in the world, not just on the lives they're impacting in Kenya, India or Haiti — it's about changing their own life trajectory." That little number three has catapulted to even larger numbers — so far, 146 schools have been built with $1.5 million in donations, thanks to Change Heroes. This proves the smallest numbers can spur the biggest impact. Just ask Flynn and Ruby Kirwin from Niagara, Ontario, who collectively raised $11,460.94 in 17 days to build a school in Ecuador. And oh yeah, Flynn is nine years old and his sister is Ruby is four. "I think everyone should be able to go to school, but not everyone can," says Flynn. The duo knocked on doors, called and charmed family, friends and community members, determined to help other kids receive an education. "Little kids can make a difference too," says Ruby. What inspires Conroy most is seeing the growing scale of what is possible. "One We Day includes 20,000 people," he says. "If they did Change Heroes campaigns, that would raise $200 million — just from one room of people from one day of the year. This is the first time youth have access to a tool that is effective enough to make more change than governments, than the biggest corporations and more than celebrities. They are powerful change-makers." RAISING hEROES WITh ThE POWER OF ThREE Big things come from small numbers By Kimberly Lochhead Taylor Conroy, founder of online fundraising platform Change Heroes, sits in on a lesson in a classroom in rural Kenya. Four-year-old Ruby Kirwin and brother Flynn, 9, raised $11,460.94 in just 17 days to build a school in Ecuador with their Change Heroes campaign. A s the sun sets over the rainforest, a crowd begins to gather. Arriving boat-by-boat, they step onto the shores of a small island set amid the calm waters of the Amazon River. The visitors, who range in age from small children to elders and have travelled for miles from neighbouring communities, take their seats in the jungle clearing. Tonight, the chirping of crickets and the wild calls of parrots and monkeys will be joined by another kind of sound, courtesy of some special guests. Hedley's Jacob Hoggard, Tommy Mac, Chris Crippin and Dave Rosin are about to put on a show. At this concert, there are no spotlights, no rows of bleachers or screaming fans. Not even a stage. And instead of a giant video screen, the backdrop is the lush greenery of the Amazon rainforest. "Music is such a powerful thing because of its ability to bring us together," says Hedley lead singer Hoggard. "It's something that strikes a chord in every human's heart." Gathered on the island that evening, these artists not only performed, but also watched as their audience shared their own songs and dances. "All of a sudden, we were all dancing together," says Hoggard. "It was just one of those incredible moments in life that you get to share with others." It was in that moment that the band realized the power of a simple cultural exchange. Even though they didn't speak the same language as their audience and were from completely different worlds, they felt a deep connection to their surroundings. "On the trip we met a variety of people — from a shaman to a fruit farmer," says Rosin. "It's amazing seeing people across the world realizing that we're all the same in the end. We're all human, we're all on this planet." This feeling carried into the following days, as the band worked alongside locals to build the wall of a new classroom and joined in a "minga," an Ecuadorian tradition where individuals come together to contribute to a project for the benefit of the whole community. "For a long time I've believed that the value of community is one that's been lost for the most part in North America," says Mac. "To see people in the Amazon coming together as a community to get anything accomplished is an inspiring lesson that we should take back to our own lives." Back home in Canada, the band reflects on the journey — their third as Me to We and Free The Children ambassadors. They've also travelled to India and East Africa, bringing back messages of inspiration to share with thousands of youth at We Day events across North America. After their trip to Ecuador, the band is more motivated than ever. "This is a generation that's been more capable, more connected globally than ever before," says Hoggard. "The ability that we have now to make a difference should be used to the fullest." TAkE ACTION CAmP LEARNING GOES BEYOND ThE BONFIRE Youth leaders enjoy team building activities at Me to We's Take Action Camp in Bethany, Ontario. ChANGING ThE WORLD, ONE SONG AT A TImE Canadian pop-rock band Hedley share stories about their trip to the Amazon and the power of music to bring us together. By Megan Harris Hedley band members left to right: Tommy Mac, Jacob Hoggard, Chris Crippin and Dave Rosin gather at the build site of a new school in Ecuador.

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