I asked my kids what they got out We Day.

My 15yo said she learned that if you really think something is important, you should figure out how to do it. You should find others who have the same concern, you should ask for help wherever you might get it, and you shouldn’t listen to those who say you can’t do it. As a result of the day, she wants to figure out how to raise some money for Landmine victims. I find it encouraging that landmine victims were not mentioned at all and that this is something she thinks is important and the day inspired her to think about what she might do.

My 13yo felt that the important part of the day was seeing Hannah Taylor, who’s a girl just like her, who is helping people in her own community. My daughter also felt that it is important for us to learn what is going on in the world – to try and meet people who are really living in the places where we think help is needed. She felt impressed by the idea that our job isn’t necessarily to help people, but partner with people to help them do what they think needs done.

My 12 yo old son came away with a very different perspective. When I asked what he had learn, he said that no matter what happens to you – you lose your legs, or break your back, or have to shoot someone, you can move past it and still do things and help people. He’s my child who seems to struggle the most and I thought it interesting that this is what he took away.

As far as a mechanism for doing this, Me to We partners with high schools to provided students with resources to help choose charities (they recommend one local, one international) and to go about raising awareness and money. My oldest said she was thinking about some sort of a bake sale on her own, but that maybe other homeschoolers would want to get together and do something. She also said, even though she isn’t a part of the Me to We school program, she would feel comfortable contacting the organization and said she thought they would help her out even if she wasn’t affiliated with a school.

There currently is no formal mechanisms with the Me to We organization for homeschoolers, which is why I was toying with the idea of trying to create some liaison with them. We could act as our own “school” or we could just create some sort to network with an individual who would bridge the gap between individuals and the Me to We resource people.

I also think though We Day focused on Grade 7 and up (due to content – which, except for one song was entirely appropriate for my six year old), there is no reason why we couldn.t have all ages working together.

Just a few thoughts,

Jennifer