We Are Silent

Recently, the students of Captain Meares Elementary Secondary School participated in a day of silence, inspired by the Me to We movement from Free the Children.   Free the Children was developed when a 12 year old Canadian boy named Craig was moved by a story of another 12 year old boy, Iqbal in South Asia who was a slave in a carpet weaving sweat shop, speaking out for children's rights, until he was killed for speaking out.

After learning about Iqbal's story, 12 year old Craig Keilburger gathered 11 friends and started fighting child labour in 1995.  Me to We is now a huge international charity focussing on 5 core pillars to end poverty; education, clean water and sanitation, health, alternative income and livelihood, and agriculture and food security.  Me to We has worked in 45 different countries, and changes countless lives every year. 
 
 Our students have been involved with various Me to We initiatives and have traveled to Vancouver for 2 separate We Day concerts.  They always come back energized and inspired to make a difference in the world, starting with our tiny corner.

The students each wrote down the reason he or she chose to be silent, and it was very moving to be reminded of the people in our world who don't have a voice and need our advocacy.

Some of the signs included:

I am silent for girls who don't have a say in their education.

I am silent for those who are controlled by a dictatorship and are unable to vote for change.

I am silent for children who are abused and afraid to get help.

I am silent for those with no voice.

i am silent for people who are too scared to say what they think.