VANCOUVER – Telus has launched a program that teaches youth how to translate their passion and ideas for their community into real change. It’s Give Where You Live educational curriculum, developed in partnership with Free the Children, promises to educate, encourage and empower young Canadians to identify social issues and take action on them to make positive change in their local communities.
The curriculum and speaking tours will launch in 40 B.C. middle and secondary schools this year, with the expectation that 150,000 youth across Canada will be involved in the philanthropic curriculum by 2016.
The program engages youth on the importance of giving back, teaching that one's own time and talent is often the most powerful and rewarding gift we can give says Telus. The carrier and Free the Children aim to help kick-start a movement of Canadian youth who are making a difference in their communities. The curriculum recognizes the great potential in today's youth to identify opportunities to enhance the lives of others, and will encourage and support Canadian youth along their journey to becoming inspired, educated leaders of tomorrow.
"We launched this curriculum because our youth are often the most engaged group in their local communities, and this is our way of helping to foster their incredibly innovative ideas that can lead to positive change benefiting citizens in need," said Josh Blair, Telus EVP & Chief Corporate Officer. "Young Canadians already have the heart and the will to act, but not always the necessary resources. That's where we come in. We want to connect with our youth and provide them the support and tools they need in order to act on their desire to change the world, one community at a time."
The curriculum teaches students about the various forms of philanthropy and highlights the importance of corporate social responsibility in the 21st Century. Each participating school will be encouraged to identify causes in their community that individual students, classes or entire schools can support. Once groups have developed a strategy, they will have the opportunity to apply for a $1,000 charitable grant from Telus to bring their initiative to life.
"Growing up, my friends and I were always searching for ways we could help get involved and make a difference in our community, but they were difficult to find," said Craig Kielburger, founder of Free The Children. "The Give Where you Live program will provide our schools and their students with all the tools, information and support they ever wanted to help spark change and support their local community, helping them to become future leaders and change makers."
In addition to launching the curriculum at Britannia Secondary School in BC, Telus and Free the Children have commenced Give Where You Live speaking tours. The presentations and workshops showcase Free the Children team members who will travel around B.C., and eventually across Canada, in an effort to further inspire and empower Canadian students.
