In 2020, the Canadian media and certain politicians launched a proxy war against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by attacking WE Charity, a children's charity that had made many significant impacts around the globe for over 25 years.
The result was the destruction of the children's charity in Canada, harming hundreds of thousands of Canadian youth and countless beneficiaries of the charity’s work in the developing world.
Were certain politicians and pundits trying to gain political favour and votes by creating a manufactured scandal?
Yes, they were.
But it was more than just self-interested politicians. Several journalists at the CBC decided to do an "expose" on WE Charity's work in Kenya to try and find a smoking gun - instead, they knowingly published false information and caused tremendous harm to WE Charity's ongoing work in the United States. WE Charity US has taken legal action against the CBC for the false reporting of some of their journalists.
CBC's misconduct - see for yourself
CBC lied about the number of schools WE Charity funded (in Kenya)
CBC falsely claimed that WE Charity built only 360 schoolrooms in Kenya. They said the number “360” was WE Charity’s own count. From the outset of its reporting, CBC knew that WE Charity built far more than 360 schoolrooms in Kenya but lied about the figure because the real number contradicted their false story about missing schoolrooms.
CBC falsely claimed WE Charity counted latrines as schoolrooms
The CBC falsely claimed that WE Charity “inflated” the number of schools it funded in Kenya by including latrines in its count of 852 schoolrooms. From the outset of its reporting, the CBC knew this allegation was false but lied because its entire donor deception story was premised on WE Charity’s full count of 852 schoolrooms being wrong.
CBC lied about WE Charity obstructing their investigation
The CBC falsely claimed that WE Charity was engaged in a cover-up to “block the scrutiny” by the CBC’s investigation. CBC's false claims of obstruction were essential to its preconceived narrative because it gave them an excuse not to visit or verify the 852 schools and schoolrooms WE Charity funded.
Coming soon to Amazon Prime Video, a new documentary by Tosh Gitonga
Two Villages tells the story of the parallel existences of Chemengwa and its counterpart across the flowing Mara River. On one riverbank, a village blooms, nourished by the benevolence of a Canadian-based NGO. It has become a beacon of progress, with clean water quenching the thirst of 30 communities, 852 schoolrooms echoing with laughter and learning, and a hospital standing as a fortress against illness.
Yet, across the river, Chemengwa lies in stark contrast, still shackled by the relentless chains of poverty. Women, their backs bowed, trudge daily to the Mara River, their only water source. The nearest hospital is a grueling 80 kilometers away, a journey of uncertainty.
Breaking news
WE Charity defamation lawsuit in a US court, judge rules
When The Fifth Estate Went From Journalists to Activist Defendants
"When do journalists stop acting in the public interest and start working to push their own agendas? When do reporters stop covering news and start making it?That question is central to the latest twists and turns in WE Charity’s court case against the CBC, its flagship news show The Fifth Estate, and several of its journalists."
See full articleAfter the devastating closure,
were youth, teachers and parents impacted?
Yes, they were.
The false media and politicians thought they were only attacking Justin Trudeau and his relationship with a charity, but in reality hundreds of thousands of young Canadians lost access to critical programming, including mental health support. In addition, millions of children from the developing world lost access to essential humanitarian programs.
Read moreIn 2022, a meticulously researched book with over 40 pages of footnotes was released to set the record straight
It became a national #1 bestseller
in non-fiction
It tells the story of a manufactured scandal designed for partisan purposes. Of a media landscape defined more by clicks and likes than facts and truth. Of self-appointed experts scrambling for the spotlight. It’s a story people think they know – but they don’t.
Notable praise of the book What WE Lost
Excerpts from What WE Lost
Martin Luther King III, who has dedicated his life to fighting injustice, stepped in to set the record straight by narrating the podcast What WE Lost.
The story of
WE Charity
See StoryWE Charity's
impact at home
See ImpactWE Charity's
impact abroad
See ImpactCanadians sent us hundreds of stories of what they lost...here are just a few
- Gail Asper’s story, a donor"I have been writing letters to newspapers since this non-story broke and have been outraged and heartbroken by the unfortunate attacks on WE and the reputations of Craig and Marc Kielburger. My sons both went on WE trips to Africa and one of them volunteered and then worked for WE as a result of the impact his trip had on him..."
- Penny’s story, a teacher"I have never doubted for one minute the integrity of the We companies, its founders or its employees. We were on a Me to We trip to Kenya in 2014 and saw with our own eyes the work that had been done. We also attended a We Day and were so impressed by both the speakers and the enthusiasm of all the youth in the crowd."
- Joan’s story, a supporter"Thanks for sharing and succinctly explaining the worthiness of the WE Charity. It’s unfortunate that some politicians have become so petty, partisan and vicious; so eager for power that they have lost sight of their responsibility to the Canadian citizen to represent justice, integrity and truth!!"