Activist Program - Free the Children

FREE THE CHILDREN VIDEO - CLICK TO WATCH

I am an active participant and volunteer for Free the Children cause. It is one of the most well known charity causes in the world which travels all to foreign places in search of areas that enforce child labour. After searching for many causes to support, I came to establish a relationship with Free the Children because it “empowers children in North America to take action to improve lives overseas”(Kielburger). The leadership council inspires leadership to youth in developed countries like U.S.A and Canada. What brought me forward is the hands on experience it offers. Sure, any organization will allow us to donate, but Free the Children aims to get people involved physically so they can truly understand the conditions of those in need. They encourage the youth and others to promote leadership because the organization believes that the children are the leaders of tomorrow, and every child, just like those in developed countries like Canada should have the right to become rightfully successful and also evolve into leaders.

At the moment, I am taking speech lessons at the organization so I can become an influential spokesperson for the cause. A recent project that I’ve worked on with them was “Be the Change – Adopt a Village” campaign. We held many food fairs at our school so we could raise money for our partners who worked in developing countries (Kenya was our choice of country) to build schools and clean water systems while also providing health care and sources of alternative income. Craig Kielburger encouraged all of us by constantly reminding us that “you can be the change you want to see in the world”(Kielburger). I know it sounds pretty cheesy, but you’d be surprised at how much of an impact those words had on us while we were in action helping others in need. Craig Kielburger once said, “I wanted to know what it is like working in the conditions, how they felt, how did they get up each morning knowing that this is what they were going to do, what their dreams were for the future”(Kielburger). While working for the organization, my mind also spoke the same language. By helping these children, it feel like I bring more peace to this world. Helping children escape from child slavery and giving them a better life makes me feel like I’m being the change. Every time I do something for Free the Children, I feel like I’m one step closer to world peace because I don’t just sit back and see what they do, I actually do and see it for myself. This coming summer, I plan to be a part of the team that will travel overseas to help build schools for children.

 When Canadian born Craig Kielburger was a 12 years old, he read an article about another young boy named Iqbal Masih. He read about how Iqbal Masih worked for a carpet factory and was used as a child laborer. At 10 years old, Iqbal escaped and joined the Bonded Liberation Front of Pakistan which protested against child slavery. Unfortunately, a few years later while riding a bicycle outside his home, Masih was shot to death. 

Iqbal Masih

 This story had a great impact on Kielburger as he built this organization called Free the Children with his friends and peers from the inspiration of Iqbal Masih. Today, his organization is the one of the world’s biggest charity causes.

Works Cited

“Craig Kielburger on Be the Change! Share the Story!”. YouTube. 24^th October 2007. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mikv2P-_8Ww> 21^st November 2009.

“Free the Children Promo Video”. YouTube. 5^th December 2009. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKOv2HTaQOE> 21^st November 2009.

“Adopt A Village”. Free the Children. 2009.< http://www.freethechildren.com/whatwedo/international/ >21^st November 2009.