Craig Kielburger
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Craig Kielburger (born December 17, 1982 in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada) is a child rights advocate and leadership specialist. He also is an award-winning author and a popular speaker. On February 20, 2007 he was named a Member of the Order of Canada by the Governor General. He founded Free The Children, the world's largest network of children helping children through education, and co-founded Leaders Today, a youth leadership training organization. When he organized the former group at the age of 12, he became famous as a young social activist.
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[edit] Free The Children
When Kielburger was 12 years old he was shocked to learn about the murder of Iqbal Masih, a child-labourer-turned-child-rights-activist. He established "Free The Children", eager to take action and determined to help free children from poverty, exploitation and powerlessness. The organization began as a small group of classmates in Thornhill but quickly grew with chapters being established all over the world with head offices currently in Thornhill, Ontario.
Under Kielburger's leadership, Free The Children and its volunteers have built more than 450 primary schools, providing daily education to over 40,000 children.
Free The Children's many accomplishments in the areas of education, alternative income, health care, water and sanitation provision and peacebuilding have facilitated high profile partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations and Oprah's Angel Network,
[edit] Leaders Today
Convinced of the importance of leadership development in empowering youth, Kielburger co-founded "Leaders Today" in 1999. Leaders Today empowers young people through leadership education, providing them with the inspiration and tools to affect positive social change. The organization delivers local and international training experiences, touching over 350,000 youth every year.
Craig Kielburger has traveled to more than 50 countries, visiting children and speaking out in defence of children's rights. An internationally renowned speaker, Kielburger frequently addresses business groups, government bodies, educators, unions and students' groups. During past engagements he has shared the podium with former U.S. president Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama and others.
Kielburger's most recent book, co-authored with his brother Marc, is entitled "Me to We". It focuses on explaining their philosophy of volunteerism, service to others and social involvement.
Kielburger has been featured on Oprah, CNN, 60 Minutes, and profiled in The Economist, TIME and People magazine and in numerous newspapers.
[edit] Recognition
Kielburger has received many awards such as:
- The Nelson Mandela Human Rights Award
- The Community of Christ International Peace Award
- The World Economic Forum GLT Award
- The Top 20 Under 20 Award
- The Roosevelt Freedom Medal
- The Governor General's Medal of Meritorious Service
- The Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
- The State of the World Forum Award.
- Doctorate of education from Nipissing University for his work in leadership development
- He was the youngest person listed to the Globe and Mail's Top 40 under 40, at the age of 23.
- The 2006 World Children’s Prize
- Made a Member of the Order of Canada.[1]
