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We are Silent

1. Let us know you’re going silent

2. Create an online fundraising page

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Fundraise!

Fundraise!

Why go silent?

215 million children are forced to work as child labourers and are denied the right to attend school. One in every three children in developing countries is malnourished. One billion children are deprived of essential services like food, water, education, or health care.

We are Silent, formerly the Vow of Silence, is Free The Children’s annual fundraising and awareness-raising campaign, made possible by Second Cup. The campaign began in 2004 and challenges participants to stand in silent solidarity for 24 hours with children whose voices are silenced by not having their rights upheld.

We are Silent is one of Free The Children’s most powerful campaigns. Every year, tens of thousands of participants stand up for children who are being silenced by the denial of their basic human rights, collecting pledges as they take a vow of silence. All over the world, young people will go silent for 24 hours to raise awareness and funds for children without a voice. The campaign can be done as an individual, group, school, or even an entire silent city.

Get Your We are Silent Take Action Kit

Take your place amongst the masses; this year get your hands on our exclusive We are Silent Take Action Kit. In your kit you will receive everything you need to stand in silent solidarity on April 18 2013.The details:

Take your stand: Once you’ve removed your items from the folder, fold it inside out and put it somewhere visible, put the cards in the flap. This is your promotional piece during your silence campaign. Set it up on your desk, at a table, or anywhere in your community where you are looking to collect pledges.
Spread your silence: You have stickers and cards. Hand them out, put one on your car, your binder, your shirt, anywhere you can think of to encourage participation and donations.
Teach them something: Your poster has stats and information. Put it somewhere visible and get people talking about real issues.
Wear your uniform: On April 18 stand in solidarity with young people around the world. A T-shirt designed by former MuchMusic VJ Jesse Giddings, not only does this shirt say something, it also looks good.

Order by April 5 to get your kit before We are Silent on April 18. Order Now!

The Facts

Human rights are basic standards and freedoms that every person requires to live. They are founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual. Regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth status or ability, these rights apply to every human being, everywhere.

Learn more about human rights, as well as the rights of children in particular, by getting informed about the issues. Read the We are Silent How-to Guide, check out our classroom lesson plans or compile your own research about children’s rights.

No matter how you do it, remember to get the facts.

What you can do

We are Silent is one of Free The Children’s fundraising and awareness-raising campaigns that engages tens of thousands of participants to stand up for children whose rights are not being upheld. From Toronto to Mexico City, London to San Francisco, Beijing to Jakarta, Vancouver to Sydney and back, on April 18, we will go silent for 24 hours in solidarity with children who are being silenced by poverty and exploitation.

Sign up

For more information and to take action email youth@freethechildren.com

Make it count.

You can increase your by collecting pledges from friends and family for each hour you remain silent. Make sure you raise awareness by explaining what We are Silent is and why it’s important to you to stand in solidarity with kids around the world.

As people pledge $1 or more for each hour you remain silent, you will be supporting Free The Children’s development projects in communities affected by poverty, disease and exploitation.

	provides classroom supplies for a school.			gives a family clean drinking water.

	funds a two-month lunch program for a school.			provides teacher training programs in Free The Children schools.

	supports the building of a community well.			can build a school or a school room.**

* The monetary amounts shown represent the average costs of Free The Children projects in the communities in which we work. In cases where donations exceed what is needed or local conditions prevent program implementation, Free The Children will redirect funds to similar activities to help people in need. If additional funding is required because of specific project requirements or challenging local conditions, Free The Children may provide additional funding to complete the project to meet our commitment to our beneficiaries.

** Provides for one classroom at a school—construction design varies depending on country—may consist of one-room schoolhouses, school-room or multi-classroom blocks.