Inspired to GET DOING at WE Day Washington

Last week, I had the honor of sharing the stage with the funny and inspiring 11-year-old Anna Miller at the WE Day event in Tacoma, Washington. WE Day is like the Olympics for youth change-makers who make service-based learning a part of their lives. The theme for the high-energy day was GET DOING and featured teen celebrities sharing their stories of personal challenges and how they overcame them, as well as showcasing local youth who are driving positive change in their local communities – what an amazing day!

WE was founded in 1995 by brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger. When Craig was just 12 years old and saw an article on the front page of his hometown newspaper that read: Battled child labor, boy, 12 murdered. The young boy had been sold into slavery at the age of 4 for less than $16 to weave carpets in Islamabad, Pakistan. He was able to finally escape at the age of 12 to then start crusading against the horrors of child labor, before being killed for his activism. Wanting to help find a way to make a change so this didn’t happen to other students, WE began. Today, the organization impacts the global community through service-based learning that provides critical needs such as education, clean water, health, and food to those in need. Students across the world have donated more than 40 million service hours to causes they are passionate about. 

Anna Miller shared her passion on the big stage in front of more than 16,000 students and educators from across Washington and Idaho.  She loves to code… coding enables her to do good for others and have a big impact regardless of her physical stature. If there was ever any doubt on what she is capable of, Anna put that to rest and solicited a huge applause from the students in the audience when she said “I know that some people might look at me and think that because I’m small, or young, or a girl, or that I use a wheelchair, that I can’t do certain things. But guess what? They’re WRONG! And that’s why I love coding… because it can make us all equal. Anyone can learn to code! “.  She is now working towards building her own app to help other kids with disabilities find accessible entrances, spaces and routes in their towns. She is not alone – many young adults are leveraging technology to create life-changing solutions.  

As a proud sponsor of WE, Microsoft is providing the technology and inspiration to help make it real for youth. Our focus is on mobilizing students and teachers by marrying WE programs and outreach, with Microsoft’s technology and philanthropic programs to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.  

GET DOING and participate in the online event!  Microsoft is hosting the WE Day Connect online event, which takes place on May 16.    Share this post so teachers, parents, and youth in your own personal and professional circles can experience this amazing event. It brings students and educators together to celebrate selfless acts of volunteerism. Students get to experience projects other students have created and take that inspiration away to dream up their own ways of impacting others through technology.  

To learn more, I encourage you to check out the following resources:

• WE Are One – Learn how technology can be a powerful tool for social change. Imagine and develop ways to make your school more inclusive for everyone.
• WE Day Connect online event – Register to watch the May 16 live online event
• Microsoft’s Digital Skills – Learn about the program, as well as how to become an advocate, volunteer, or teach students to code – there are many fantastic, tangible opportunities to get involved.

I left WE day motivated to GET DOING! We can all make a difference and it starts with empowering our students and educators.  Service-based learning, coupled with digital skills, are enabling our young people to be the change-makers of tomorrow.  WE make a difference when we choose to say yes and get involved.