WE Charity response to the CBC’s Fifth Estate
WE Charity response to the CBC’s Fifth Estate
CBC consistently misrepresents WE Charity's work in Kenya. We're setting the record straight.
WE Charity is transparent with donors about their use of funds. Donors’ funds are used to achieve their intended outcome: helping children in Kenya and around the world. But again, CBC’s The Fifth Estate is publicizing allegations about WE Charity that are provably false.
The Fifth Estate has been consistently wrong in its reporting on WE Charity. Retired schoolteacher Donna McFarlane wrote in her local newspaper (here) that CBC edited her words to misrepresent her. Eight donors featured in the previous broadcast wrote an open letter (here) criticizing CBC for publishing false information about their experiences donating to WE Charity.
Now, over a hundred donors, including a former Prime Minister, CEOs, and heads of community fundraising efforts representing thousands of Canadian donors, have written individually and collectively to the CBC to raise serious questions about their reporting. You can see that letter here.
WE Charity has built and renovated 852 school rooms in Kenya, including classrooms, libraries, science labs, dormitories and other structures essential to providing children with an education. WE Charity provided the CBC with the locations and individual photos of each (visit our communities in Kenya here), yet the CBC chose to base its allegations on inaccurate information and data.
For this reason, WE Charity has chosen to pursue legal action against CBC. Read the press statement below.
The facts and the loss
CBC: stop misrepresenting us
CBC consistently misrepresents our work in Kenya
The facts about our development model: what CBC got wrong
The tragic loss for families and communities
The stories CBC chose to ignore
When CBC travelled to Kenya to report on WE Charity's education pillar, they chose to visit local schools on a weekend, when classrooms are empty and school children are home. Had they gone during the week or stayed longer, they might have met these remarkable young women.
Diana's Story
Abigael's Story
Purity's Story
From photographs to maps: see WE Charity's work in Kenya and around the world
WE Charity's five-pillar development model, which is based on equal partnership with communities., starts with education and includes building or renovating schools or school rooms (including classrooms, libraries, kitchens, teachers’ accommodations, and school offices).
Follow the links below to see the 850+ schools and school rooms we’ve built in Kenya, plus the work we've done around the world.
Further resources and information
