The Benko family – Morgan, left, Tim, Shelly, and Faith – pose with Mama Helen, and Kenyan students Joanne and Irene at Sunday’s ‘Behind the Beads: Meet a Mama’ event at Precious Blood Parish Centre in Cloverdale in advance of We Day Vancouver 2014 on Oct. 22. Mama Helen, a traditional bead maker and mother of four, was the first Maasai woman to join Me to We Artisans, an initiative of Free the Children that helps women become economically self-sufficient.
Over spring break, the Benkos visited Kenya on a Me to We trip and sponsored the local event, where the special guests from Kenya shared their experiences.
We Day is an initiative of Free the Children, an international charity founded by Canadians Craig and Marc Kielberger that helps young people reach their potential through education, clean water and health projects.
We Day was created to inspire youth to action and social change, at home and around the world.
We Day Vancouver is Oct., 22 at Rogers Arena. Speakers and performers include Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Selena Gomez, Orlando Bloom, Silken Lauman, and a raft of other motivational speakers, pop stars, celebrities and artists.
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