Resources

Welcome! This is a space to learn how you can join Free The Children to tackle important social issues in our local and global community. Sign up for our newsletter, ask questions of a Youth Programming Coordinator, download our issues backgrounders and inform yourself about some of the most prevalent and debilitating issues of our world.

1. Voices International Newsletter

Written by the youth programming team and packed with articles for students and teachers, Voices International is Free The Children’s monthly newsletter. Every issue has a message from Craig and features the latest on world issues and upcoming campaigns and events.

2. Youth Programming Coordinators

Youth Programming Coordinators are dynamic young people here to help you in your pursuit of change. They are experts in connecting you with the issues you’re passisonate about, so connect with them through email or Facebook.

Get in touch at youth@freethechildren.com.
 

3. The Issues

Understanding the world around you is the first step towards making positive change. From clean water, to child labour, you can explore important topics with our Issues information.
 

Clean Water

Water is the basis for life. We need it to quench our thirst, grow our food, clean our bodies, clothes and homes. Contaminated drinking water is one of the major causes of health problems for people in developing countries and the leading cause of death in children.

Child Labour

Child labour is work that’s harmful to a child’s physical and mental development. One in seven children is exposed to this kind of labour, kept from school and the chance to improve the situation they were born into.

Drought

Drought signifies a long period of time, usually several months or years, without normal rainfall or precipitation. This causes the land to become very arid and dry. Water sources dry up and can no longer be used, forcing people to go long distances to search for water.

Education

Almost 100 percent of all North American school-age children are in school. This is a far different picture from the developing world, where millions of children are denied their basic right to an education.

Health

Good health can be broadly defined as freedom from bodily or mental disease. When health gives way to illness, people are less able to work or go to school. Adding the effects of extreme poverty like lack of food, clean water and sanitation compounds the seriousness of the situation.

Poverty

Freedom from poverty gives people the freedom to live. Yet today, nearly three billion people live on less than $2 US a day. There are 1.4 billion people living in what’s called “extreme poverty,” marked by an income of less than $1.25 a day.