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We Day has youth taking a stand

It might have been a gloomy rainy day, but the energy coming out of Vancouver's Rogers Arena last Thursday could have lit up the Lower Mainland, as youth brought their excitement and eagerness to make a difference to celebrate We Day.

It might have been a gloomy rainy day, but the energy coming out of Vancouver's Rogers Arena last Thursday could have lit up the Lower Mainland, as youth brought their excitement and eagerness to make a difference to celebrate We Day.

Like many students among that huge passionate crowd, this was a first for me. In fact, We Day was a concept I had never heard of since I'm from Belgium and only arrived in Canada last month to intern at the Richmond News.

Sitting in that crowded stadium and seeing thousands of students donning T-shirts and waving banners with slogans such as, "You have the power to change the world" and "Shameless idealist," I couldn't imagine a more perfect picture.

What's more, I got to witness their excitement that, for once, was all about their own power and opportunities to lead change throughout the world, be it in their own community or in a distant continent.

Or as Craig Kielburger - one of the driving forces behind We Day - put it, "Don't wait for the change, don't follow the change, but be the change."

And what I learned, wherever our passion may lead us, there is no such thing as impossible.

That message resonated through the stories of X Factor-judge Demi Lovato, YouTube senstation Cody Simpson and visually impaired youth ambassador Molly Burke - who've all faced bullying.

Basketball hero Magic Johnson also touched upon the issue, referring to other players who didn't want him in the game after it became public that he was HIV-positive.

I could almost hear a pin drop during those personal revelations, which must have directed thoughts back to 15-year-old Amanda Todd, who took her own life recently after being cyber-bullied for years.

Premier Christy Clark referred directly to Todd, saying, "She needed a person to step up. Everyday, you have the chance to be that person, so step up," to which the whole arena stood.

Many, including myself, were humbled by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 81.

Despite the age gap with the audience, he still impressed them with his story on leading to end apartheid in South Africa.

Another man that left shivers running down my spine was Spencer West, who lost his legs at the age of five.

Redefining what is possible, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, hand over blistering hand, raising money for clean water sources for communities in Kenya. "You will have to climb mountains to (reach) social change, but I'll meet you at the summit," he said.

Although We Day is an empowering event, I'm aware the motivation to change the world will not stick with each one of those 18,000 young souls.

But as the founders experienced themselves, change always starts with just a few - and the captivating stories and inspirational words shared on Thursday hopefully encourages another few to stand up, changing "me" to "we" and achieving social change.

Anne-Fleur Kamst is an intern from Belgium, writing for the Richmond News.