A family’s first college graduate, a school taking on local food insecurity, a farm in the rainforest rejuvenating the world’s best cacao and classrooms around the world joining to celebrate the impact of young social advocates. What do these moments all have in common? WE.

As 2019 comes to an end, let’s pause and reflect on the remarkable achievements made possible by the WE community’s incredible network of global change-makers. There’s certainly a lot to celebrate and WE is thankful to everyone who contributed to its remarkable year of impacts through their actions and donations .

WE is a story of change, and positive change is always good news. So, to give 2019 a proper sendoff, we’ve gathered up our top good news stories of 2019 to inspire next year’s do-good to-do list. Each story highlights incredible triumphs, driven by passionate individuals, all committed to building a more inclusive, socially just world.

Since WE Charity (formerly known as Free The Children) was founded in 1995, the organization’s mandate to create long-term, sustainable change has remained steadfast. Social justice and partnership are at the heart of all WE programming, whether that’s empowering students through the WE Schools service-learning curriculum in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. or working alongside local leadership to bring clean water access to communities in Kenya, India and Ecuador.

With the approach of 2020, WE prepares to celebrate 25 years of sustainable impact. Help us leverage the momentum of good radiating from projects and programs spanning North America, the U.K., Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean, and join the community in creating meaningful change. Read on for inspiration!

In 2019, WE College celebrated its very first graduating class. “I am the first person in my family to go to high school, the first to graduate college and the first to get behind the wheel,” explains School of Tourism graduate Mercy Ntuala. Find out how Mercy is breaking in to a male-dominated field, with her sights set on becoming a safari guide.

You know him as an actor, director, producer and, of course, an ’80s icon a la Breakfast Club fame, but to those in the WE community, Emilio Estevez has another superstar talent: change-maker. Just ask WE Day goers who have heard Estevez share his experience and advice with the next generation of social advocates. As for whom he credits with inspiring him, his gratitude is pointed in the direction of incredible educators, whom he likens to “first responders.” “Teachers are on the front lines of helping children understand the world at large,” he says. “They are crucial to the development of young minds.”

At Saint Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, Halloween goes far beyond ghoulish masks and sweet treats. For students and educators at this Hamilton, Ontario, school, October 31st is among the most important days in the calendar—it’s the day they take on food insecurity. Through the WE Schools program, the student body—led by teachers—have grown their annual WE Scare Hunger food drive into a community-wide act of giving that keeps those in need fed through the holiday season. As the educator who has helmed this event since it first began nearly 20 years ago, educator John Morelli can’t help but gush over his school’s social impact. “Watching teenagers try to make a difference in their community and trying to be good neighbors, it goes against the perception out there that they’re selfish.”

Did you know that chickens can change the world? “We wanted more investments that would give us more income,” explains Rose Mutai. “We bought chickens because we knew the investment would pay off fast.” Watch and see how this community farming group in Kenya transformed a barren plot of land into a profitable new business.

“She was so happy she had the chance to represent the community and greet the First Lady, she cried,” shares Justin Naiguek, a nurse at Baraka Hospital, referring to an expectant mother who met Margaret Kenyatta. On the heels of a visit from the First Lady of Kenya—who came to celebrate the hospital’s commitment to maternal care—Naiguek reflects on one his most powerful moments while on shift at the maternity ward at the county hospital.

“We are farmers, but we are blind without training,” says Raul Alvares, a cacao farmer in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador. The rainforest boasts some of the world’s best cacao, but without access to training, the trees are dying. To tackle the issue, WE’s Agricultural Learning Center is preparing small-scale farmers to take a chunk out of the global chocolate market. This is their story.

Fans love her for the bubbly personality she brings to the small screen as an ET Canada host, topped by her catalog of upbeat pop hits, but Keshia Chanté—while seemingly eternally camera/stage ready—is a regular person with flat days, just like you and me. For the entertainer, reaffirming this fact is part of her responsibility as a public figure; one she hopes will help raise awareness around the importance of proactively nurturing positive mental well-being. She declares, “I think the more people speak about it, the more we can learn.”

Pop culture loves Bill Nye the Science Guy. Since his television days on PBS, this quirky, straight-talking STEM advocate has sparked inspiration in his fair share of budding scientists. Today, he continues to hold a captive audience, whether it be via his Netflix show, Bill Nye Saves the World, or as a guest speaker at WE Day. And just like the old days, you can depend on the spirited Nye to widen your perspective with his informative take on world issues such as climate change. With all eyes on him at WE Day, this humble social advocate shares his kudos with the audience. “Here at WE Day it’s all about the young people who have done cool things and good deeds,” he says. “You guys will change everything.”

“We are the ones who know the challenges of not having water, so we will make sure this project is well taken care of,” shares Judy Toniok, assistant secretary of her community’s Water Management Committee. The committee plays an integral role in ensuring this Kenyan community’s solar-powered clean water project is accessible to all residents, including the primary school, for years to come. Get firsthand insight into the work it takes to accomplish this goal.

Tickets to WE Day are a hot commodity, earned through volunteer hours. Unfortunately there are more students giving back through WE Schools and its various fundraising and awareness campaigns than there are WE Days events. With so many more would-be WE Day-goers out there, it seemed like an online event was in order, and so WE Day Connect was born. Like the big show, WE Day Connect celebrates the impact of young change-makers on the local and global community with inspiring speeches and performances. Unlike the stadium sized events, the streaming event is borderless. “WE Day Connect allows everyone to be involved,” shares Joanna Harvey, an educator from Manor Park Public School in Ottawa, Ontario. “The impact becomes more real to them, more personal. It makes them feel like they’re making a difference.”