The willingness of youth to take action and make a difference is often underestimated, and the School District 83 Me to We committee is a shining example of youth stepping up to do good things.

This student-led committee works within the students鈥� communities and extends their reach across the globe to help those in need. The committee is made up of students from across the district who collectively work to plan, fund and execute charitable projects.

Some of these projects include the annual Toonie Tuesday fundraiser, which has raised more than $130,000 to date in support of charitable projects. The students have also travelled internationally to help with the hard work of building the schools they fund.

When asked why they were interested in the committee, and what inspired them to stick with it, their answers touch on common themes.

鈥淲hen I was in Grade 1, our school did a fundraiser through Me to We for Sierra Leone. That was my first exposure to some of these global issues, and I became very passionately involved with it and it is just something that has carried itself with me through school,鈥� says Maddison Coombs.

鈥淲hen I was younger I found leadership groups only did things locally, and I thought I could make an impact more globally so that鈥檚 why I thought I wanted to join the committee,鈥� adds Keeya Corbett.

Another common theme around the table was a willingness to pay it forward with their good deeds, in hopes of inspiring others.

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鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to realize, eventually we鈥檙e going to be the adults. Give or take 20 years, we are going to be the people back in this community and if we don鈥檛 give back nobody will,鈥� begins Rhys Middleton. 鈥淲e can inspire others as well to make a better society.鈥�

鈥淎lso, learning how to do things without having to be rewarded for them, just doing it out of the kindness of your heart and being selfless, and not always needing gratification,鈥� adds Fiona Young.

At the WE Day celebrations in Vancouver this year, The district Me to We Committee was selected to receive the Get Doing award for their volunteer efforts.

The award is given to students who go above and beyond with their hands-on volunteer efforts. While normally awarded to one student, principal Wendy Woodhurst worked to allow them to receive the award as a group.

WE Day that brings together speakers, activists, philanthropists and students to celebrate a commitment to giving back. They were recognized by Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart in front of thousands of spectators for their work, and the speakers at the event seem to have left an impression.

鈥淪ome of them may not seem as close to the heart, but every once in a while there is one that is so powerful and really meaningful it feels like they are speaking directly to you. It was very nice,鈥� Young says.

鈥淚 think with WE day you get to see kids who are doing great jobs but you also get to see adults who prove that just because you are out of high school doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 continue doing these things,鈥� adds Corbett.

Particularly of note for sisters Haleigh and Taylor Parker, the event鈥檚 recognition of First Nations students was important to them.

鈥淪o I have been going down to WE day for a couple years and they always did an acknowledgment of territory,鈥� Haleigh says. 鈥淔or me and my sister Taylor, coming from an Indigenous family, it means a lot to both of us just because reconciliation means a lot to us and we have lost family members due to the effects of residential schools.鈥�

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Rhys Middleton and Richard Jurasek accepted the award on behalf of the committee, taking to the stage in front of a massive audience to receive it.

鈥淚t was really inspiring to be up there in front of that many people,鈥� Middleton begins. 鈥淎nd it was really nice to meet the people backstage as well. All of them are genuine good people. It was crazy to see the rush that went on behind stage as well.鈥�

However, the committee stressed the fact this award was for the entire district and not just their committee. In fact, they presented the award back to the district at the Dec. 18 school board meeting in Salmon Arm and expressed thanks for the help of fellow students.

When asked what they would say to fellow students interested in taking part, or to anyone hoping to get involved in volunteerism, there was no shortage of quick responses.

鈥淛ust the experience you get from volunteering, and learning more about your community as well is amazing. You just gain so much experience from it,鈥� says Sebastian Nyeste. 鈥淭here are so many ideas from other people that you would never think of yourself. It is neat hearing other people鈥檚 opinions and what drives people.鈥�

鈥淚t can always add a bit more perspective to your life, another point of view which is always beneficial,鈥� adds Chris Ollinger.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so that you can help make something greater than yourself. Like how to plan and fund a project, something that is beyond our own world,鈥� says Andrew Hall.