A group of children at Ste. Marie Catholic School in Spirit River got the surprise of a lifetime this morning. The 13 student class found out they’re going to be flown by WestJet to Calgary later this month to take part in WE Day. It’s a reward for the work they put in to fundraising last year, as Tanner Leslie says they collected more than $1,700 for Free the Children.
“I didn’t think we were actually going to raise that much money, but we raised quite a bit. Most of us, we just go to the one in GP, but now I get to go to the one in Calgary, so it’ll be a new experience; I think it’ll be exciting.”
The group was challenged by their grade six teacher to help increase clean water access for other countries, and they chose to focus on Haiti, organizing fundraisers like movie nights and recycling drives. Some of the youth also attended Mighty Peace Day in Grande Prairie and Krista Wight says she hopes to see them leave WE Day with further inspiration.
“A sense of citizenship; they’ll make long-lasting friendships, and then they can see that there are kids all across here and as well they know there’s WE Days in other provinces, so they know all across Canada that kids are making a difference; it’s not just adults.”
Wight says she tries to find a service project each year, and has seen her students go on to help in the community outside of class. WestJet is helping youth from seven rural communities across the country get to a WE Day this year.