We Day was a moving and empowering experience for the approximately 70 Coast students from elementary to high school that took part on Oct. 23 in Vancouver.
“It was really incredibly inspirational,” said Sami Alford, a Grade 11 student at Chatelech Secondary School.
This year Sami signed up to help volunteer at We Day, a stadium-sized celebration that brings renowned speakers and performers together to inspire and encourage youth to get involved in at least one local and one global action.
Schools must sign up for We Act, a year-round educational program with the same mandate, to be able to go to the We Day celebration.
Sami volunteered as a “crowd pumper” for one section of the stadium seating over 20,000 guests gathered for We Day.
“My favourite part with being a crowd pumper was seeing all the people who came and who were there to be leaders and make an impact in the world and to be empowered,” Sami said.
Her favourite speaker was Mustafa, the slam poet.
“His poetry was all about empowerment,” Sami said.
Nine other leadership students from Chatelech went to We Day. Grade 12 student Elsa Bjerkebro said her favourite part was hearing from Ashley Murphy. Murphy talked about her struggles as a youth living with HIV and how she was making a difference in the lives of others suffering with the disease.
“Our weaknesses can turn into our strengths. Don’t be ashamed of what makes you unique. Rock your differences. Own them,” Murphy told the crowd.
The speaker moved Elsa.
“I had to keep back some tears. She actually was really, really moving,” Elsa said.
Other special guests such as Mackle-more, Spencer West and Orlando Bloom also delivered messages of empowerment and creating positive change before host Selena Gomez introduced surprise guest Jennifer Lopez to close out the day.
“It was all really good,” noted Grade 10 Chatelech student Georgia Watson.
All of the students who spoke to Coast Reporter said they would encourage other schools to join We Act and attend We Day next year.
“It creates such an empowerment around your community and school,” Sami said. “It’s so beneficial for everybody.”
Learn more about We Day and We Act at www.weday.com.
