Hannah Alper is wise, profound, and 11

By Eva Trieger

ENCINITAS, California — You know that moment when the sun crests the horizon, and a new day is filled with hope, possibility and the promise of triumph?  Or that sensation when a billion blinding light bulbs awaken a football stadium?  That is the feeling I had after my phone interview with Hannah Alper, eco-warrior, blogger, and ambassador for Free the Children.

This 11 year old is nothing short of a phenom.  Her mission is simple:  She wants to be the change in her world and show kids that no one is too young or too insignificant to accomplish Herculean things if we work together.  Hannah proved this in her Toronto neighborhood.  Inspired by double amputee, Spencer West, a Canadian who climbed Kilimanjaro and walked from Edmonton to Calgary on his hands, Hannah got involved with We Create Change.  Currently, this organization, co-founded by Marc and Craig Kielburger, along with Free the Children, has set a goal of building 200 schools in Africa.  Sounds impossible, right?  But if you think this has stymied Hannah, think again!

Last year, as part of a clean water initiative, Hannah challenged her own elementary school and a neighboring one to collect pennies.  She made the task completely attainable by asking for pennies, something nearly every grade schooler can contribute.  This grass roots campaign raised 140 million pennies! That’s right, 1.4 million dollars which provided for a lifetime supply of clean water to 56,000 people.

Hannah is banding together with several other inspirational and like minded folks to bring attention and solutions to world problems such as hunger, lack of education, and ecological preservation.  The first of these events was held in 2007 in Toronto.   We Day is a group formulated for social action.  Students gain admission by committing to one local and one global act.  There are no tickets for purchase, but simply the desire and vision for tikun olam.

Since 2007, We Days have been held all over Canada with huge impact, growing numbers and incredible entertainers who’ve become role models and mentors to the children who join them.  Each year speakers motivate the crowd for another year of action.  Hannah told me that although she was exceedingly nervous when she spoke at We Day Toronto before a crowd of 20,000, her anxiety abated with the “power of We.”  Her audience shared her passion and celebrated the success of their involvement.

This remarkable young woman was not found in a cabbage patch.  No, she comes by her social conscience honestly.  Her mom, Candace, is the project manager for the We Create Change tour, and dad, Eric, has over 200,000 Twitter followers and raises money to make sure that kids in need can have hearing aids, through a nonprofit charitable organization called Hear Here.  Hannah’s parents are but two of her role models.  Other mentors have come her way via this amazing journey.

Some of these well known artists include teen boy band Neverest, Demi Lovato, Imagine Dragons and so many other pop singers who share Hannah’s passion and vision of a future of an educated populace thriving through healthy and sustainable practices.  The common bond is the desire to instill a thirst for social action on the local and global level.  The message is that everyone can be a part of the change he wants to see.

Hannah reported that she admires and stands in awe of many who’ve showed her the road to righting wrongs.  Topping the list is Malala, a young woman who lobbied for, and won, educational rights for girls, while living under Taliban rule. “She is courageous, and showed me how to use my voice for change.”  Prince Harry, who is continuing Princess Diana’s work with HIV/AIDS, is another superstar in Hannah’s galaxy.

SAVE THE DATE!  March 26, 2014 is We Day California.  This event will be held at the Oakland’s Oracle Arena, and Hannah and her parents will be there, along with co-chair Natalie Portman and Magic Johnson.  Oakland is buzzing with philanthropic energy and the collection of guest speakers and performers is nothing short of electrifying.  Actors Martin Sheen, Seth Rogen, Lauren Miller, and Selena Gomez will be on hand.  Others sharing the spotlight include Martin Luther King III, and Me to We inspirational speakers Spencer West and Molly Burke.  Don’t miss out. (weday.com/watch)

Hannah was proud to tell me that since 2007, We Days have raised more than $37 million dollars “for over 1,000 local and global causes.”  Hannah and her family are so excited about this We Day California and can’t wait to get here.  They were unable to attend We Day UK at Wembley Stadium earlier this month, but did manage to get up at 4:30 in the morning to watch the television coverage!

Since becoming involved in We Create Change and Free the Children, Hannah has seen how her own life has blossomed. She stated that “young people can change the world. “ The campaign has taught her valuable life lessons; hurdles are opportunities to problem solve.  (Check out her blog callmehannah.ca for updates.)  In quoting Spencer West, one of her biggest personal heroes, Hannah says, “No can’t, no won’t, only how.”

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Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the arts.  She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com

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