Grade 6 kids go silent for We Day

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/07/2014 (4320 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We Day is an educational youth empowerment event and movement of young people coming together to change the world. This year’s We Day Manitoba will take place on October 29, 2014 at the MTS Centre with 16,000 students and educators from across the province. Students are earning their way to the event by taking action on one local and one global action of their choice.  Follow their stories here or learn more at www.weday.com

School: Dr. F. W. L. Hamilton School

Location: East St. Paul, Man.

The cause: Bullying and the right to education

The action: In late April, Kaitlyn Yakel’s Grade 6 class spent time writing about why they were choosing to go silent on April 21, for their “Silent Day”. In preparation for the day, they spent time discussing reasons they chose to be silent, and why it is so important to them. They spoke about Malala and everything she has worked so hard for. After spending time discussing their reasons, they wrote a letter as a class explaining their silence. Below is an excerpt from the letter:

“First of all, we choose silence for the people who get bullied and are afraid to speak out for themselves. We feel this is important because bullying causes feelings of being hurt and there are many reasons it occurs. Sometimes it’s because of differences, sometimes it’s because the bully is insecure themselves, and sometimes it’s a chain reaction in which the bully was bullied and is now taking it out on another person. There are many negative effects to being bullied such as, anger, depression, low self-esteem, dropping out of school, and even death. If we don’t take a stand for the people being bullied, who will?

Another reason we feel it’s important to choose silence is for the children around the world with no opportunity to attend school for an education. Instead, they have to work all day, and they get no say in this situation. Their life is controlled and their fate is chosen for them. If we don’t take a stand for these children, who will?” (Kaitlyn Yakel’s 6th grade class)

The why: “We can participate, we can speak, and we can take a stand. If every one of us works together, we can change the world!” — Samantha Stoddard, Grade 6