Whether it is helping free children, providing families with clean water, or empowering youth to change the world, Craig Kielburger is always trying to make a difference. His organisation, Free the Children, which he founded at age 12, went from 12 kids to over 1 million young people in more than 45 countries, who believe in changing the world. Craig was born December 17, 1982, in Thornhill, Ontario, and only 30 years later, he is one of the most well known activists for children's rights. He has traveled all over the world to help children, and most of his work was done as a child.
Thornhill, Ontario, where Craig grew up.
Young Life
Craig lived in Thornhill, Ontario, with his parents, Theresa and Fred Kielburger, and his older brother, Marc Kielburger. He got his first taste of activism through Marc, who fought for many enviromental causes. At age 7, Craig would help Marc to get petitons signed: "They always would (sign) because I was so cute," Craig said. As a small child, he suffered chronic ear infections that caused him to develop a speech impediment. Eventually, at age 10, the ear infections stopped, and he lost the speech impediment. Around that time, he also developed an interest in public speaking, and entered a local competition with his speech "What it means to be a winner." He won first place, for speaking from the haert.
Craig was invovled in public speaking even before he created Free the Children: When the municipal council decided to close down the local library, Craig and some friends went to a meeting and spoke up about why it should stay. He was asked to speak about it in front of the council a few days later. He lost the debate, but came away feeling like kids could really make a difference.
Craig was invovled in public speaking even before he created Free the Children: When the municipal council decided to close down the local library, Craig and some friends went to a meeting and spoke up about why it should stay. He was asked to speak about it in front of the council a few days later. He lost the debate, but came away feeling like kids could really make a difference.
Education/Motivation
Craig was searching through the Toronto Star for the comics one morning, when he came across an article about Iqbal Masih, a boy who had worked in a carpet factory since age four, in horrible conditions. He escaped to tell his story to the world, but was murdered at age 12.
Craig, who was 12 at the time, was shocked that anthor boy his age could live in a completely different world. He took the article with him to school and asked his grade seven teacher if he could speak to the class about it. 11 of his classmates agreed to join him in the fight for child rights. They named their organization Free the Children- they were children working for children. The twelve 12 year old's wrote many letters to political leaders, fundraised through car washes and garage sales, and spoke to schools about child labour. FTC even sent a letter and a petition with twenty thousand names on it to the goverment of India to get a child rights activist out of jail!
Craig attended Bishop Scalabrini C.S., Mary Ward C.S.S., became the youngest ever graduate of the Kellog Schlich 1 Executive MBA program, and has a degree in peace and conflict studies from the University of Toronto.
Marc also played a big role in the founding of FTC: he was Craig's main role model, being an activist himself. "I remember thinking, if he can do it, so can I." said Craig.
Craig, who was 12 at the time, was shocked that anthor boy his age could live in a completely different world. He took the article with him to school and asked his grade seven teacher if he could speak to the class about it. 11 of his classmates agreed to join him in the fight for child rights. They named their organization Free the Children- they were children working for children. The twelve 12 year old's wrote many letters to political leaders, fundraised through car washes and garage sales, and spoke to schools about child labour. FTC even sent a letter and a petition with twenty thousand names on it to the goverment of India to get a child rights activist out of jail!
Craig attended Bishop Scalabrini C.S., Mary Ward C.S.S., became the youngest ever graduate of the Kellog Schlich 1 Executive MBA program, and has a degree in peace and conflict studies from the University of Toronto.
Marc also played a big role in the founding of FTC: he was Craig's main role model, being an activist himself. "I remember thinking, if he can do it, so can I." said Craig.
Major Contributions
Craig traveled to Asia to meet child labourers at age 13, and helped police in a raid to free the kids from a carpet factory and return them to their families. He co-founded Me to We and Leaders Today with his brother, both of which empower young people around the world to make a diference. He also created We day, a day long educational event which inspires youth to create a change, where musicians, Nobel Prize winners, and others speak about changing this world. He has won ten honourary degrees for his work, including the Reebok Human rights award, the top 20 under 20 award, and the 2006 World's Children's prize for the Rights of the Child, also called the children's nobel prize. He became the second youngest recipiant of the Order of Canada at age 25. Craig is a best-selling author who has written nine books, including Free The Children and Living Me to We: a guide for socially concious canadians. Craig Kielburger Secondary School was named after him and opened recently in Milton, Ontario.
Now, Craig runs Free the Children(as a volunteer) and continus to give speeches- around 70 per year!- and travel around the world. He lives in Toronto and continues to organize We day each year, and co-writes "Global Voices", a weekly coloum about the issues of our time, and "Ask the Kielburgers", an advice colum in the Globe and Mail.
When he first started as an activist, many people thought he was too young and should not speak of these things, but he perserved and has raised millions of dollars for kids around the world. He continues to inspire millions of young people and is a true role model. As Craig says: "The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when children are free to be children."
When he first started as an activist, many people thought he was too young and should not speak of these things, but he perserved and has raised millions of dollars for kids around the world. He continues to inspire millions of young people and is a true role model. As Craig says: "The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when children are free to be children."
TimeLine
1995- Craig was truck by the story of Iqbal Masih and fouded Free the Children with 11 other grade seven students. He wrote many letters to important leaders, and raised enough money to build a rehabilitation center in Pakistan for kids who have suffered through child slavery.
1996-Craig traveled to Asia with his friend Alam Raham, where he met many child workers and helped to free child workers in a raid. He met with Jean Chetien, Canada's Prime minister at the time, and held a press conference about stopping child labour. The trip cahged his life: he often refferes to his life as an activist as Pre-Asia and Post- Asia.
2007- The first We day was held at Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum, with 8,000 youth in attendance. Craig and Marc were thrilled and hopeful that We day would cause youth to discover new passions for activism.
2008- Craig became the second youngest recipiant of the Order of Canada at age 25, on April 11, for his work with Free The Children.
1996-Craig traveled to Asia with his friend Alam Raham, where he met many child workers and helped to free child workers in a raid. He met with Jean Chetien, Canada's Prime minister at the time, and held a press conference about stopping child labour. The trip cahged his life: he often refferes to his life as an activist as Pre-Asia and Post- Asia.
2007- The first We day was held at Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum, with 8,000 youth in attendance. Craig and Marc were thrilled and hopeful that We day would cause youth to discover new passions for activism.
2008- Craig became the second youngest recipiant of the Order of Canada at age 25, on April 11, for his work with Free The Children.
Songs That Represent Craig Kielburger
We Are Young/Fun- This song has the lyrics "We can burn brighter than the sun," and is titled "We are Young" which reminds me of Craig Kielburger's ideals: that young people can truly change the world, not just adults.
Waving Flag/K'naan- This song is about youth fighting for a change, much like Craig fighting to put an end to child labour, and again, his ideals that young people can truly change the world.
We are the world/Micheal Jackson- This song is telling us that we are the change, which is what Free the Children and Me to We want to inspire in people.
One Life/Hedley- This song is about living life to the fullest, since you only have one life. Craig has spent most of his life fighting for what he believes in, so he has truly lived life to the fullest.
Waka Waka: This time for Africa/ Shakira- Free The Children has run many campains for the children of Africa, like building schools. This song is about Africa, so they are similar.
Waving Flag/K'naan- This song is about youth fighting for a change, much like Craig fighting to put an end to child labour, and again, his ideals that young people can truly change the world.
We are the world/Micheal Jackson- This song is telling us that we are the change, which is what Free the Children and Me to We want to inspire in people.
One Life/Hedley- This song is about living life to the fullest, since you only have one life. Craig has spent most of his life fighting for what he believes in, so he has truly lived life to the fullest.
Waka Waka: This time for Africa/ Shakira- Free The Children has run many campains for the children of Africa, like building schools. This song is about Africa, so they are similar.