There is nothing better than seeing young and talented actors using their international fandom for positive reasons. And that is why we here at IBG, Inc. are so impressed with the cast of Degrassi.
“We would never be here if not for Degrassi, and Degrassi and Free The Children, that partnership’s been around forever. They went on a couple of trips even before we were ever on the show,” Munro Chambers, who plays current Degrassian Eli told IBG C.E.O. Danielle Turchiano during a special interview.
“I think it’s just good to give back. If you become successful in your career, and you become in the public eye, you should use that in a positive way…With kids, they’re the generation to lead the charge, and they vibe off what we’re doing, and when they hear what we’re doing or see the documentaries, they say ‘Oh, well, what can I do?’”
Much of the Degrassi cast, like Drew Torres (Luke Bilyk) himself, has gone with Free The Children overseas to places like India, Ghana, and Haiti to be hands on with the non-profit’s mission. Free The Children isn’t simply about sending money to impoverished countries, though. Instead, the group works to do away with the idea of aid by empowering the communities to be a part of their own development and therefore success.
Free The Children believes in a world where “all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change.” They are about removing barriers that prevent certain countries from becoming active local and global citizens through education, engagement, and the “Adopt a Village” model. But perhaps most importantly, they believe in getting the younger generations involved, in order to break the cycle of ignorance and poverty.
In order to do this, they speak to more than 200,000 youth every year, host conferences, and participate in community events. And who better to pay it forward and widely spread such a positive message than the young actors who today’s youth admires anyway?
“I like it because it’s kids working for kids and with kids,” Bilyk said of his time with Free The Children.
“It’s good for kids to be able to go over there and 1) see what their money is doing, and then physically be able to help the kids and connect and make a bond. That’s the biggest thing, I think. When I go there, I love to make a bond with them.”
Not everyone can afford to fly overseas for charity work, though, so Cristine Prosperi, who plays Imogen, explained that there is something called “We Day” that encourages involvement no matter where you are.
Added Chambers: “Do whatever you can in your community. There’s still a lot of poverty and struggles going on in places you’d never expect.”
How are you helping make your community a better place? Check out WeDay.com or how to get involved with Free The Children for some tips and let us know what you plan to adopt into your routine in our comments section below!
[...] of Canada’s top employers for youth in 2010 and 2011. They have also been longtime partners with popular Canadian television show Degrassi to help spread even more awareness and bring about [...]