Just In: Craig Kielburger Wins Children’s Nobel Prize

Hey World Movers and Shakers,

I have some terrific news! Craig Kielburger, founder of Free The Children, was awarded the 2006 World Children’s Prize. The award, also known as the “Children’s Nobel Prize”, was announced today in Stockholm and will be presented by Queen Silvia of Sweden at a prize ceremony on April 20. 

Craig was selected as the recipient of the award by an international child panel of judges made up of former child soldiers, slaves, refugees and street children. Past recipients of the World Children’s Prize include Global Friends Award winners, Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel. 

The prize was given to recognize Craig’s leadership and development efforts through Free The Children. The award has a special meaning for him because the first World’s Children’s Prize was awarded to Iqbal Masih, an inspiration of Craig’s, for his fight against child labour. 

“It is my great privilege to accept this award on behalf of all the young people of Free The Children who are committed to creating a better world for their peers,” said Kielburger. 

This award is proof of the power each youth holds and the strength we can exercise when we come together. Free The Children is extremely grateful for this prize and we want to express our gratitude to every single youth who believes that change is possible and who supports our campaigns.

Thank you to each Youth in Action group and each school across North America and throughout the world that came together to make your voices heard…you have rocked the vote!

~Silvia
silvia@freethechildren.com

Rebuilding in Sri Lanka

Craig Kielburger, Founder of Free The Children, has just returned from Sri Lanka, where he attended two opening ceremonies. The ceremonies celebrated the opening of a primary school and the “Oprah’s Angel Network Center for Learning.” These two projects were undertaken in partnership with Free The Children and funded by the generosity of the Oprah Show viewers through Oprah’s Angel Network. The Centre for Learning is the first vocational training centre in the entire country to be rebuilt following the Tsunami. The opening ceremony brought together the whole community with students releasing doves as a symbol of hope.

The Centre will benefit 200 young adults per year, who will learn the necessary skills to rebuild their lives: training in carpentry to rebuild homes and hospitals; outboard motor repair to rebuild the fishing industry; as well as sewing, carving, and computer technology. The centre also serves to empower the women of the community as they will be learning these skills, previously available only to men, which will transform the gender dynamics of the entire community.

Adopt a Village Updates

Hey Everyone!

I was doing some research on poverty the other day and I came across some very shocking statistics:

• It would cost an estimated $6 billion a year to provide basic education to everybody in the world, while $8 billion dollars is spent every year on cosmetics in the United States.
• It would cost $9 billion a year to provide everyone in the world access to clean water, while $11 billion is spent on ice cream in Europe!

These statistics show us that it is not a lack of resources, but a lack of priority, that keeps us from solving the world’s problems. 

Last month I visited Chedoke School in Hamilton, Ontario, where a team of student leaders are running the Brick by Brick campaign, and putting their own spin on it. The students created paper bricks for people to buy, design and post in the school. The Chedoke School is showing their community and the world that everyone can be a part of the solution.

~Jason
jason@freethechildren.com