pixel
Register User
Close
The Brampton Guardian The Brampton Guardian The Brampton Guardian The Brampton Guardian
SEARCH SITE
The Brampton Guardian
Youth encouraged to change the world
The Brampton Guardian
Tuesday November 3 2009
Christina Lapytskaia
A humanitarian, social activist and best-selling author, Craig Kielburger founded Free The Children in 1995 at the age of 12. Since then, he has inspired a generation of young people to be active global change-makers. He also co-founded Me to We, a social enterprise that encourages daily choices that change the world. Kielburger has received national and international recognition, recently becoming one of the youngest recipients of The Order of Canada.
 
BRAMPTON - Actions speak louder than words and hundreds of public school students were encouraged to take steps to change the world around them.

More than 5,500 Peel District School Board middle and secondary school students attended Leadership Now! Oct. 27 and 28 at the Powerade Centre in Brampton. The event is part of the board’s Student Leadership for Global Development (SLGD) program and sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), a government program to lead Canada’s international effort in helping poverty.

Motivational speakers, musicians, community groups and aid organizations were assembled to motivate and inspire students. Peel area youth were asked to stand up and be a part of the movement to end global poverty.

It’s a great opportunity to put students together like this, Peel Board Student Trustees Sahil Kumar and Bhavan Sandu said. It is an especially great opportunity for middle school students, who can start taking leadership roles before reaching high school, they suggested.

Featured speakers at the event were young activists Craig Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children, and Michel Chikwanine, a former child soldier now working with Free The Children.
Free The Children is the world’s largest network of children helping children through education and development programs. The organization helps build schools in poverty-stricken communities overseas and is currently organizing Halloween for Hunger, an event that encourages students to trick-or-treat for non-perishable food items and donate them to local food banks.

They are also holding the Vow of Silence for children’s rights on Nov.20, One Night Out to raise awareness of homelessness on Feb.25 to 26 and the Barefoot Walk April 30 to raise awareness about poverty. More information is available online at www.freethechildren.com.

Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva, an organization that allows individuals to lend money to entrepreneurs and small businesses in depressed communities around the world, was there alongside emcees from Absolute Leadership, a non-profit organization that empowers youth to change their world.

Students enjoyed informative, inspirational and motivational speeches plus personal stories about poverty.

“We see stats and images; we don’t see the human element,” said Kielburger.

Live music and entertainment were provided by Rides Again, a Canadian rock band from Oshawa, and Liam Titcomb, a Canadian singer/songwriter who recently raised $50,000 for War Child Canada.

The event was also intended to teach youth they need not wait until adulthood to influence change.

Speaking up about poverty, teaching others, and taking action are all important because poverty is a reality that can be eradicated, said Kielburger, And poverty exists in wealthy communities like Peel as well as far off continents.

“Even if the culture is different, the need for change is the same,” said Chikwanine,

Students were encouraged to start school clubs and organizations to make a positive change in their community.

It’s “important to get involved in something positive,” said Chikwanine, because “ending poverty is a real possibility” for this generation.

Students had the opportunity to walk the halls of the Powerade Centre and gather useful information, brochures and samples from various visual displays provided by non-profit and community organizations.

About 4,100 middle school students enjoyed the event Oct. 27, while over 1,600 secondary school students came on the 28.