[[{"fid":"17409000","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full","field_display_mode[und]":"half","field_image_position[und]":"right","field_image_description[und][0][value]":"Student speaking at the Team London at WE Day UK 2017"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"full","field_display_mode[und]":"half","field_image_position[und]":"right","field_image_description[und][0][value]":"Student speaking at the Team London at WE Day UK 2017"}},"attributes":{"class":"gla-large-unconstrained media-element file-full","data-delta":"1"}}]]On 22 March, Team London Young Ambassadors from four schools in Croydon joined Deputy Mayor Matthew Ryder on stage at WE Day UK.
WE Day is part of WE - an organisation that brings young people together and gives them the tools to change their local communities and the world.
The event brought together 12,000 young people alongside inspirational speakers and world-renowned performers to celebrate their commitment to taking action on issues globally and in their own communities.
Lucy-Ann from Meridian High School told the audience about the foundation she and her classmates set up to support cancer charities. They have been raising funds by holding bake sales in their school. They’ve also started a story-telling project to entertain residents at a local elderly home and a shoebox appeal for the homeless in their borough. Together, their goal is to support everyone in Croydon who needs their help.
Georgia from St Andrew’s Church of England High School, along with her classmates, organised a reward scheme for young volunteers. They created wristbands which were handed to volunteers. This also encouraged other young people to volunteer. In doing so they've been raising awareness on the importance of giving back. This is helping to improve their local community and also improve the image young people in Croydon.
Michael from Howard Primary School told WE Day of his passion for ending human trafficking. He and his classmates have raised funds for the Lily Project which supports women who’ve entered the UK through human trafficking.
The last Young Ambassador to take to the stage was Marie from Minster Junior School. Her school is passionate about the environment and have launched a ‘go green be clean’ campaign to support environmental issues. They are also running a gardening project and raising awareness on recycling issues.
Although the young volunteers on stage attend different schools, they have been working closely together as part of Team London Young Leaders. This programme connected the volunteers and they soon realised that they have a common passion - their love for the environment. They decided to work together to take action and now plan to host a ‘green day fair’, help redesign solar powered bins and start gardening clubs. By working together, the young volunteers are learning vital skills from each other such as the ability to listen and collaborate.
The WE Day line-up included Kate Winslet, The Vamps, Jessie J, Paula Abdul, Fleur East, Margaret Trudeau and Spencer West. International activists and WE co-founders, Craig and Marc Kielburger, also shared their passion for change and gave motivational speeches to inspire another year of change.
There is a lot of negativity in the world today. Whether at school, on social media, or in the news - it’s easy to get weighed down by it all, and easy to forget one's true self. But when people from all walks of life come together to achieve a common goal, real strength in unity can happen, and change can have its place. That’s what WE Day is - young people, coming together, to make positive change in the world. Kate Winslet.