Over 25 years, WE built a golden brand by inspiring children to rally around their charismatic leader. But behind the scenes, employees experienced a cult-like culture and a troubling blur of charitable and commercial activities. In the aftermath of a national scandal, thousands of donors and volunteers (and dozens of ‘celebrity ambassadors’) are left wondering where the money went, and whether the savior industry creates a constant need for victims. From CANADALAND, the news company that exposed it all, this is the exclusive story of a charity that did well when it was supposed to be doing good.

Subscribe to The White Saviors now! Series launch: August 23

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Editor’s Note: WE Charity, its founders and related entities have notified Canadaland that they intend to sue Canadaland because they contend that the trailer and press release concerning The White Saviors podcast contain “baseless allegations”.

You can read their “Libel Notice” here and their detailed response to the trailer and press release here. Canadaland reminds listeners that the White Saviors trailer and press release provide a summaries of the information and allegations that will be fully explained in the podcast series, including WE’s responses to the allegations.

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This trailer contains source materials used under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act.

Sources:

It Takes a Child

Craig Kielburger's Story - A Journey into Child Labour

Directed by Judy Jackson

Produced by Judy Films

Youtube

The Story of Craig Kielburger

produced, and narrated by Sherine Mansour

CPAC

Youtube

In Search Of Character

LiveWire Media

Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc

https://www.livewiremedia.com/product/in-search-of-character/

The Price WE Paid

The Fifth Estate/CBC

Interview with Craig Kielburger

CSPAN

Craig Kielburger NSB Speakers promotional video

Youtube

Marc Kielburger NSB Speakers promotional video

Youtube

WE Movement Youtube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6agaIkn5aBJlLLds7P1HQ

MeToWe Youtube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6agaIkn5aBJlLLds7P1HQ

CTV News - Kielburger brothers interview with Lisa Laflamme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_p5PRLy2os

MTV Cribs: Craig Kielburger Episode

Haddon Strategy

https://vimeo.com/49975157

Editor’s Note (August 20, 2021): WE Charity, its founders and related entities have notified Canadaland that they intend to sue Canadaland because they contend that the trailer and press release for The White Saviors contain “baseless allegations”.

You can read a copy of their Libel Notice

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig Kielburger was the Greta Thunberg of the 90s – a 12 year-old kid from the suburbs who dreamed of freeing the world’s children from slavery. His activism made him famous, and he was endorsed by Oprah, the Pope, the Queen, and the Clintons. His campaign became a global movement and a powerful brand. 

But right from the start, there were uncomfortable questions about money and exploitation. Decades later, it all came crashing down. But the seeds of WE’s self-destruction were planted right from the start…

Official responses from WE:

According to the WE Organization: neither the WE Organization nor Marc or Craig Kielburger have ever been investigated by a law enforcement agency, currently or in the past.

The WE Organization maintains that all financial transactions between its various entities, both charitable and for-profit, have followed all applicable laws.

In his libel claim against Saturday Night Magazine: Craig Kielburger said that the article was false and led people to wrongly believe he was keeping the money for himself. According to a reported statement by a Free the Children accountant, donations made prior to the organization becoming a registered charity were deposited in a separate bank account, and the group was being run as a charity pending Revenue Canada’s approval of its application.

2018 investigation:

https://www.canadaland.com/all-of-wes-answers-to-canadaland-and-letters-from-their-lawyers/

2019 investigation:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21044335-we-responses-to-canadaland-2019?responsive=1&title=1

Further reading:

Canadaland’s reporting on WE Charity: https://www.canadaland.com/?s=we+charity

The WE Charity story, according to WE: 

https://www.we.org/en-CA/about-we/we-charity/our-story

WE.org Transparency page:

https://www.we.org/en-CA/transparency-reporting/we-charity

WE.org Financials page:

https://www.we.org/en-CA/about-we/we-charity/governance/

ME to WE Transparency page:

https://www.we.org/en-CA/transparency-reporting/me-to-we

Music by Audio Network

This episode contains source materials used under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act.

Sources:

It Takes a Child

Craig Kielburger’s Story – A Journey into Child Labour

Directed by Judy Jackson

Produced by Judy Films

Youtube

The Story of Craig Kielburger

produced, and narrated by Sherine Mansour

CPAC

Youtube

In Search Of Character

LiveWire Media

Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc

https://www.livewiremedia.com/product/in-search-of-character/

The Price WE Paid

The Fifth Estate/CBC

Interview with Craig...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kids in 17,000 schools have been encouraged to take the WE Pledge, join the WE movement, and “Live WE.” But what does that really mean? In practice, it has meant fundraising for WE, paying the Kielburgers’ private company for a “voluntourism” trip, going to work for WE, and living in communal WE housing. According to many of those who lived WE, it meant joining an organization very much like a “cult.”

Music by Audio Network

**********

Official responses from WE:

With regards to child labour, WE Charity has said

“WE Charity’s commitment to ending child labour is evident and beyond reproach based on more than 20 years of dedication to working with the poorest children and families around the world.”

When asked about its partnerships, the WE Organization has said:

“We recognize that no company is ‘perfect,’ but we take a 360-analysis to determine the overall socially responsible practices of the business. We take our vetting process seriously and have frequently declined/halted pursuit of partnerships because they do not align with our values… We are dedicated to adhering to our strict vetting process, even in cases where the opportunity cost has been millions of dollars.”

The WE Charity story, according to WE: 

https://www.we.org/en-CA/about-we/we-charity/our-story

WE Charity’s responses to Canadaland’s questions:

2018 investigation: https://www.canadaland.com/all-of-wes-answers-to-canadaland-and-letters-from-their-lawyers/

2019 investigation:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21044335-we-responses-to-canadaland-2019?responsive=1&title=1

WE.org Transparency page:

https://www.we.org/en-CA/transparency-reporting/we-charity

WE.org Financials page:

https://www.we.org/en-CA/about-we/we-charity/governance/

ME to WE Transparency page:

https://www.we.org/en-CA/transparency-reporting/me-to-we

Further reading:

Canadaland’s reporting on WE Charity: https://www.canadaland.com/?s=we+charity

This episode contains source materials used under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act.

Sources:

Guelph Politicast

https://guelphpolitico.ca/2020/08/19/guelph-politicast-234-we-a-personal-story/

It Takes a Child

Craig Kielburger’s Story – A Journey into Child Labour

Directed by Judy Jackson

Produced by Judy Films

Youtube

The Story of Craig Kielburger

produced, and narrated by Sherine Mansour

CPAC

Youtube

In Search Of Character

LiveWire Media

Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc

Hosted on Acast. See