He might only be 12, but Mitchell Schroter is determined to help others in need.
Mitchell and hundreds of other passionate Richmond students will join world-renowned speakers and performers in Vancouvers Rogers Arena for We Day on Oct. 18 to learn how they can use their power to create positive change.
A host of inspirational people, including archbishop Desmond Tutu, X Factor judge Demi Lovato and former basketball player Magic Johnson will address local and global issues they are passionate about: homelessness, girls empowerment or food security.
And as the tragic story of Amanda Todd makes headlines worldwide, the topic of bullying has been put on the agenda, too.
We want to unite like-minded students and show them its a good thing to care about whats going on in the world, said James Lombardi, director of We Day.
Our goal is to arm them with information and resources to take action in their local schools and communities.
Mitchell, for example, intends to spend Halloween participating in his schools fundraiser, collecting canned foods for the Richmond Food Bank.
Students become extremely inspired thanks to We Day, said Noami Hazon, vice principal and teacher at Westwind Elementary school.
It helps them to become focused, empowered and motivated to work together as a group, she said.
(The event) also teaches them to think beyond themselves and how to make a difference in spite of their age.
In fact, their young age may make their voice even stronger, according to Mitchell.
Getting involved in projects to help others is especially important as an example to younger children, because they look up to us, he said.
We Day inspires teachers as well, said Hazon, adding they are provided with resources and guidebooks that support lessons about local and global issues.
We Day is put on by Free The Children, an international charity and educational partner that encourages youth to be agents of change.
Fighting to liberate children from poverty and exploitation, the organization was founded in 1995 after Craig Kielburger 12 years old at the time was shocked by the story of a South Asian boy sold into slavery.
Just like Kielburger, Richmond students are being asked to take matters into their own hands and work on at least one global and one local issue of their choice throughout the year.
Students of Richmond Christian schools are already setting a good example by putting on their hiking boots to raise money for abandoned and disabled children in China.
Five hundred participants were expected to take part today (Wednesday) in Walk the Wall 2012, a six-kilometre hike along the Richmond Dyke.
In the run-up to the walk, students have been learning how children in China are sometimes abandoned for being disabled.
Thanks to pledges from donors in their community, students are able to sponsor those children with disabilities, providing them with full-time residential care.
