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Founded By:
Sponsored By: |
Craig Kielburger
Craig, now 22 years of age, has traveled to more than 40 countries, visiting the world’s most underprivileged children and speaking out in defense of children's rights. He frequently addresses business groups, government bodies, educators, unions and students’ groups. He has advocated on behalf of children in meetings with political and religious leaders including Prime Ministers and Presidents, CEOs of major corporations, Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama, Queen Elizabeth II and Mother Teresa. Since its inception Free the Children has worked to free children from poverty and exploitation by addressing its primary root cause, a lack of education. The organization has changed the lives of more than one million young people in forty countries through its innovative programming. Its unique Education for Children program consists of school building, alternative income, healthcare, water and sanitation and peace building projects. To date over $20 million has been raised through youth-driven initiatives. Free the Children has built 400 schools that provide education to 35,000 children, shipped $9 million worth of medical supplies, and created primary healthcare centers that service 500,000 people. The organization has developed alternative income programs benefiting 20,000 people, and delivered 200,000 school kits to new students. Free the Children’s high profile advocacy campaigns have led Canada, Mexico and Italy to pass legislation to better protect children from sexual abuse. The organization has also successfully lobbied corporations to adopt standard labeling for child-labor free products. As a result of its success in the area of peacebuilding, in 2001 Free the Children was selected by the United Nations Office of the Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict to be the lead NGO in coordinating youth outreach for the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence. The organization has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Convinced of the importance of leadership development in empowering a generation of socially active youth, Craig co-founded Leaders Today in 1999 together with his brother Marc. Leaders Today has since become the top youth leadership training organization in the world, empowering young people with leadership education, inspiration and tools. The organization delivers innovative local and international training experiences, reaching over 100,000 youth every year. Leaders Today offers expert youth motivational speakers and global leadership seminars, organizes international volunteer trips, and hosts the Take Action! Academy. Through the Volunteer Now! Program, youth facilitators empower high school students to fulfill provincial requirements for voluntary service by becoming active in their communities. As part of the Youth in Philanthropy Initiative, students are provided with $5000 grants that they distribute to local non-profit groups of their choice. Through programs like these, young people learn about the importance of social involvement first hand. An accomplished social activist and popular speaker, Craig is also an award-winning author. His first book, Free the Children, won the prestigious Christopher Award and has since been translated into 8 languages. Craig is also co-author of the national bestsellers Take Action—A Guide to Active Citizenship for Youth and Take More Action!. His most recent book, co-written with his brother Marc, is entitled Me to We: Turning Self-Help on Its Head. This inspirational volume empowers people to live the Me to We philosophy, which encourages volunteerism, service to others and social involvement. Craig’s work has been featured on Oprah, CNN, 60 Minutes and 20/20, and profiled in Time and People magazine and numerous newspapers. Craig is currently pursuing a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Toronto. Boards and Committees
Awards and Distinctions
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A
long time child rights activist, Craig Kielburger is founder of
Free the Children, the largest network of children helping
children in the world. Craig first began his journey as a
spokesperson for children’s rights while still a child himself.
At age 12 he was shocked to learn of the murder of a child laborer
turned child rights advocate, and resolved to take action. Eager
to educate himself and his peers on the issue of child labour and
to free children around the world from poverty and exploitation,
Craig established (Kids Can) Free the Children in 1995.
