Craig and Marc Kielburger began Free the Children and Me to We to help improve communities in third world countries. Today the brothers have enlisted the help of many actors and singers to help create schools in communities around the globe. Munro Chambers is one member of Free the Children who is working hard in Asemkaw, Ghana to help build a school with other members of the Degrassi: The Next Generation cast.
Chambers, best known as Eli Goldsworthy on Degrassi, spoke with Huffington Post about the culture shock upon visiting India and Ghana. However, in his opinion it was much more eye-opening visiting Indian. “Seeing something as devastating as what I saw in India was really shocking. The poverty and the living arrangements -- the fact that their houses were made of mud and sticks. And everywhere, there were kids -- on the street, running around, crying. I've only seen those things in movies, so to actually witness it... you really turn yourself inside out and look inside of you. It was a big shock.
Despite all the shock, Chambers cannot stress enough it‘s not about feeling bad for people, but using inner strength to offer support and love for the less fortunate. “I feel like there's a big misconception that we come here, and we have only pity and sadness for the people here. But we're happy. We're here to help them. Help them, not by giving them things, but to build a foundation, to give them what they need for a sustainable future. I'll be happy.”
Chambers returns as Eli in Degrassi: The Next Generation this October.