CTV and Free The Children announced today that they will partner for the next three years on WE DAY, the largest youth-empowerment event of its kind. The partnership will see CTV broadcast a WE DAY prime-time special each year for the next three years, which continues a relationship that began four years ago with the very first Me to We Day.
Taking place in three cities this year – Toronto (September 30), Vancouver (October 15) and Montreal (November 12) – WE DAY will reach 36,000 student leaders at the events and millions more through the prime-time special (broadcast details to be announced). CTV and Free The Children revealed today a first look at the entertainers, activists and social issue speakers scheduled to hit the stage at this year’s WE DAY, with the goal of empowering youth through music and stories of courage and activism. With more announcements to come, the initial lineup includes:
– Deepak Chopra, award-winning author and physician
– Philippe Cousteau, Chief Ocean Correspondent for Animal Planet
– Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire, Canadian senator and retired general
– Rick Hansen, Canadian paraplegic athlete and activist
– Hedley, multi-platinum recording artists
– K’NAAN, Canadian poet, rapper and musician
– Wangari Mathai, Nobel Peace Laureate from Kenya
– Jason Mraz, Grammy winner and multi-platinum musician
– Martin Sheen, actor and activist
– Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate from Northern Ireland
International child rights activists and Free The Children co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger will once again address youth at both events.
“It is our honour to share with all of Canada the spirit, energy and commitment that Free The Children inspires during WE DAY and every other day,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels CTV Inc. “Craig and Marc are visionaries who continue to transform lives in Canada and around the world.”
“This is not just an event; it’s a movement,” said Craig Kielburger, Founder of Free The Children. “With CTV’s continued commitment and support we will empower this generation of youth to lead this building movement of change.”
Every person attending WE DAY has committed to take tangible local and global actions for a better world. In the months following the events, students participate in a unique year-long program called the We Schools in Action Program (www.freethechildren.com/weschools).
Launched by the energy and message of WE DAY, We Schools puts students at the forefront of active global citizenship by educating them on social issues and action planning, developing leadership skills and engaging them in world-changing action.
By volunteering within their school community, or by setting a fundraising goal for Free The Children’s Adopt a Village program, these students will learn about some of the world’s most pressing issues and will be able to see the benefits of their efforts within the school year. By the end of the 2009/2010 school year participating students will have volunteered more than one million hours of service and adopted ten villages in developing countries overseas. Through developing these ten communities overseas, Free The Children will implement its holistic Adopt a Village model, providing access to education, clean water, health care and alternative sources of income and affect the lives of more than100,000 individuals.
WE DAY Details:
Toronto – Air Canada Centre, September 30, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET
Vancouver – General Motors Place, October 15, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PT
Montreal – Théâtre St-Denis, November 12, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET
Times are subject to change.
* WE DAY is a Free The Children initiative. The event is made possible at no cost to students and schools through the sponsorship and support of numerous companies and organizations. National Bank Financial is the title sponsor of the event.
About Free The Children
Free The Children is the world’s largest network of children helping children through education, with more than one million youth involved in innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded in 1995 by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has a proven track record of success. Through the energy and passion of youth, Free The Children has built more than 500 schools around the world, providing education for 50,000 children every day. The organization has received the Rights Award from the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, and has formed successful partnerships with leading school boards and Oprah’s Angel Network. For more information please visit www.freethechildren.com.
