No one is too young to make a difference.
Thanks to your support, these young upstanders are proving exactly that. Through the Be an Upstander program, these students learned how to recognize injustice, know their strengths, and use those strengths to create change. They also created projects that bring awareness to the issues they are passionate about.
The students featured are just some of the more than 70 who shared their projects at the annual Be an Upstander showcase at the Museum this past May. We hope you are inspired by their creativity, passion, and desire to make the world a better place.
Use the left and right arrow buttons to explore the photos.
In photos: The 2024 Be an Upstander Showcase
Helping the hungry
Fueled by her passion for gardening, Grade 7 student Calee is growing tomatoes and more for families in her rural community. “I hate hearing how people go hungry every single year,” she says. “All children and their families should have access to healthy food options, regardless of how much money they make.” With just a few seeds and a lot of determination, Calee is protecting the right to food in her community.
Insight into autism
Grade 10 student Parker identified drawing as one of his strengths, so he wrote and illustrated a book about his experience with autism. “I plan to read this book to kids at my school and to possibly put this up on YouTube for everyone to hear my message,” says Parker. “I want to raise awareness about kids with autism.”
Increasing Black representation
Books were a popular form of expression at the showcase this year. Brittana, Grace, Felicia, Tumi, Aishah and Toba wanted to improve representation at their junior high school. Their hard work researching and writing resulted in “Know their Names,” a book that highlights the accomplishments and contributions of Black Canadians. The students launched the project during Black History Month at their school and now have their book permanently included in the school’s library for future students to learn from.
Remembering Ukrainian children
Musical performances were a new addition to the Be an Upstander showcase this year, inspired by those who raised their voices to call for change in the Museum’s exhibition Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change. Grade four students Marii, Bozhena, Sapon and Nomi performed the song “Dear Ukraine” by Khrystyna Soloviy. Their goal was to draw attention to the children taken by Russia during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.
Making a change in themselves
Grade 11 and 12 students Mililani and Tri performed Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. “We chose this song as it represents hope and the idea of making a change in ourselves to impact the issues at hand,” the duo said of their performance. “We have grown more conscious of our actions as young people and will encourage others to speak out when they see injustice.”
Exploring songs that promote human rights
Music was also a source of inspiration for Johanna and Mya. The two Grade 7 and 8 students chose to research songs they were familiar with and explore how they have been used to promote human rights.
“Seeing such prominent artists take advantage of their fame to address very important issues and raise awareness was very cool to learn about,” the students said. They plan to share the songs and their messages with their peers in school.
Calling for an end to violence against MMIWG2S+
A group of Grade 5 and 6 students also used music to bring attention to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people through a powerful book and video titled “The Last Red Dress.” Students wrote poems about their experiences and perspectives and then combined them to tell the story of one person, who they called “The Red Dress Girl.” “She speaks from the spirit world, reflecting on her life and urging people to take notice of the tragedy faced by MMIWG2S+,” said Kyrstyn, a Grade 6 student. “She wants to ensure that she is the last red dress.”
Acknowledging the land
Indigenous ways of knowing and being also impacted Grade 5 and 6 students Alexis, Lia and Katie. Along with the rest of their classmates, they created personal land acknowledgements after learning about climate change, reconciliation and the land. Their statements are centred on places they love, like a nearby soccer field, a peaceful forest, or a sunny lakeshore. Each statement begins with an acknowledgement of the treaties and the people who traditionally live there, followed by the actions the students will personally take to protect and care for their chosen space.
Helping hands thrift
Some of the projects on display had a very practical approach. Grade 7 and 8 students AJ, Deejay and Patrick recognized that there were people in need in their community and decided to do something about it. “Our hearts hurt for the kids that have to live in poverty,” the group shared. “This project is about helping children and kids in need.” The students are collecting donations to start a “pay-what-you-can” thrift store later this year, so people can access necessities at a price they can afford.
We hope you are inspired by the students taking action on human rights issues through the Be an Upstander program at the Museum. This would not be possible without your support. Thank you so much for your compassion and generosity!