Make a Difference in Your Community
Making a difference in yo
ur neighbourhood or community doesn’t have to be hard. And, if you begin by thinking of causes you’re passionate about, and involve your friends, family and colleagues, volunteering won’t feel like work, either. In fact, one study found that 94% of people who volunteer notice that their mood improves after they’ve given their time and effort to a cause. It’s called the “helper’s high.”
Once people get into the habit of giving back, they’re generally hooked for life. But getting started is tough for many of us. For example, a Vancouver-area study revealed that 51% of its residents did not partake in any volunteering activities simply because they didn’t know where to start or what they personally had to offer.*
The reality is that getting started is as simple as thinking about what local issues you’re already passionate about or getting to know the organizations in your community where you would like to volunteer. Then do your research – contact the organizations that pique your interest and express why these causes are important to you. Often, the most satisfying opportunities to give back are the ones that engage your skills, talents and the things you already enjoy doing.
If you’re looking for an easy way to get started on your journey of social good, consider getting involved with WE. By offering easy ideas for taking action at school, home or work, WE helps people create a positive impact in the world, and makes doing good, doable!
What is WE
?
WE is a movement that brings people together and gives them the tools to change the world. Our unique family of organizations that allow us to pursue our vision: a world that has shifted from “me” thinking to “we” acting.
Students around the world can participate in WE Schools, a year-long educational service-learning program that partners with local schools and student groups to empower youth and effect positive change. To celebrate these acts of service, we host WE Day – an unparalleled stadium-sized celebration of young people committed to making a difference, where students earn their tickets by doing one local and global action during the sc
hool year.
Our WE Villages program is a holistic, collaborative, sustainable and effective five-pillar model built on 20 years of experience collaborating with community members and international development experts. The program equips communities with tools they need to break the cycle of poverty and redefine their futures. Our WE Villages are supported by students, families and companies all around the world.
Finally, ME to WE is a social enterprise that markets ethically sourced, socially conscious products and experiences that enable people to effect positive social change with their everyday purchases.
How WE can help you give back
WE makes it easy for you to get involved—whether at home, school or work—by offering tools and resources to help you create positive social change in your community and around the world. Here are some ways you can give back:
Donate: Whet
her you are fundraising for the first time or putting on a gala extraordinaire, let us work with you to provide ideas and opportunities to make an incredible impact for the local or global cause you care about. WE will provide updates on the community or project you’ve helped to fundraise for so that you can stay connected to the impact you’ve helped to create.
Sign up for WE Schools: If you have a young person in your life, encourage them to get involved with WE Schools! Students and educators can sign up on our website and get access to the WE Schools Kit – an interactive resource to collaborate and create action plans.
Gifts that give back: Every time you purchase a ME to WE product, you give back to families and communities through education, clean water, healthcare, food security and financial opportunity.
Sustainable Travel: ME to WE provides socially conscious travel options for youth, schools, families and companies – giving them the opportunity to visit WE Villages partner communities. People who take part in these experiences can learn more about local cultures, contribute to sustainable development projects, and even see the impact being made by the WE movement.
Become a WE Family: WE Families is a free online resource that provides advice and support for families who are looking to make a difference, offering simple activities including fundraising and awareness initiatives that are flexible and easy to follow. It’s especially useful for families with busy schedules, and those who are new to giving back.
Get your workplace involved: WE Companies provide workplaces with the tools necessary to develop a positive social or environmental mission. Our organization works with companies and organizations to maximize their CSR objectives by providing opportunities to give back, along with easy-to-follow activities for doing good at work and at home. Through WE Companies, our hope is to empower workplaces to give back to their communities and be more consciously aware of their role as change makers in the world.
These are just a few ways you can get involved with WE. Our goal is to build a community of 100 million people who care and act, and even one small action can make a big difference. If you’re interested in learning more, visit WE.org and join us on our mission to change the world! 
