By Patricia Walsh-Warren, Animator for Newfoundland and Labrador
In Corner Brook, N.L., like in most places, inspiration comes in many ways and sometimes when you least expect it.
Carly Rae Mouland and Grace Brake Higgins were first introduced to Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada (DPCC) in September 2023. Their independent Catholic school, Immaculate Heart of Mary, had been invited to send two students to DPCC’s Newfoundland and Labrador regional assembly in St. John’s.
Though they admittedly did not really know much about DPCC, the two grade-10 girls accepted the invitation to represent their school. They joined the assembly as its youngest participants, all eager to learn. This first interaction with DPCC would be the beginning of their involvement in our movement.
Catching the bug in Corner Brook
Returning with the knowledge and connections they gained from the assembly, the students encouraged their teacher, Drew Nadon, to enroll their school in the D&P Schools program. They felt that by being part of this program, they could continue to learn more about international development and the work of DPCC.
And enroll they did! With the leadership of Carly Rae and Grace, the students of Immaculate Heart of Mary have worked hard with me, as DPCC’s local animator, to complete challenges to earn badges and to cultivate a socially just mindset in their community.
During International Development Week last year, the students organized a documentary movie screening. The movie was focussed on fast fashion and its implications for the environment and human rights. The school community has since completed many more badges and activities within the D&P Schools program, continuing to nurture students’ interest in and passion for making the world a better place.
A moment of inspiration
Earlier this year in May, there was another regional assembly, this time in Corner Brook. Camilo Coral, who oversees DPCC’s programs and projects in Ukraine, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, was scheduled to facilitate a workshop at the assembly. So, we took the opportunity to also have him meet senior high students at the Immaculate Heart of Mary school.
Camilo mesmerized the students with an exercise that gave them insight into how DPCC approaches projects and works with partners to support their efforts. The students learned about making choices that lead to long term development, peace and sustainability and not just quick-fix solutions to current problems.
That was when inspiration struck Carly Rae.
As the classroom was being tidied, she approached and asked if she could organize a benefit concert for DPCC. As an emerging singer-songwriter, Carly Rae wanted to use her talents to help others. Over the summer months, she worked with Grace and recruited other high school musicians to plan a Youth Showcase concert in aid of the work of DPCC.
Collaborating with schoolmates and students from other local schools and communities, Carly Rae and Grace turned the idea into reality. Their Youth Showcase concert was held at 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 18 at the Rotary Arts Centre in Corner Brook, with the support of the centre’s performing arts outreach officer, Brad Randell.
A sublime soirée
Kicking off the concert, Katy Hancock and Molly Buffett performed a few numbers before Bloom, a band comprising students from the nearby town of Pasadena, took the stage. Carly Rae and Grace with band members Joseph Michael, Jordan Murley and Anderson Murphy closed out the night. The eclectic lineup included a variety of music: some originals, some covers, some heavy metal and some light rock and pop. No matter the song, the audience was thrilled to be part of the moment.
In between performances, the students presented DPCC’s two-fold development and education mission to attendees to help them understand the importance of the funds the concert was raising. They also took a moment to explain the D&P Schools program and how they had had the opportunity to benefit from it. Earlier, Carly Rae had related to a journalist who had written about the concert for a local radio station, how she had been inspired by Camilo’s workshop at her school.
Finally, at the end of the evening, the Most Rev. Bart van Roijen, bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador and member of our national council, joined the organizers and performers on stage to thank them for their dedication and contribution to DPCC.
In addition to raising over $1,000 for DPCC, the students had charmed their audience of some 65 people and introduced them to our work, our youth programming and the issues of global concern that we seek to address. To me, their concert represented, not unlike the music it staged, a perfect harmonization. It brought together various aspects of our work including youth engagement, regional assemblies and international programs. In this, the Youth Showcase was a showcase of the best of our movement.