General
What is Free The Children's mission?
Is Free The Children religiously affiliated?
Does Free The Children work with school boards?
Does Free The Children work with corporations?
Will Free The Children partner with my organization?
Can I visit your office?
How did Free The Children start?
Can I volunteer with Free The Children?
What work does Free The Children do locally in North America?
What's the best way for me to get involved?
Is Free The Children a registered charity?
My school doesn't really have a lot of money. Can I participate without fundraising?
How can I work for Free The Children?
Communications
Can I use the Free The Children logo on my brochure, website, etc.?
Can I link to the Free The Children website from my personal or group website?
Should I have my press releases approved by Free The Children?
Adopt a Village
What will I get when I register for the Adopt a Village campaign?
Can I choose which project and which country my funds will support?
Can I support an Adopt a Village project in a country other than Kenya, Sierra Leone, China or Sri Lanka?
Can we collect in-kind donations-such as construction tools, medical supplies and school supplies-instead of money?
What's the actual cost of a school? Does the price include things such as teacher wages, desks and books?
Can I name the school I build? Are the teachers in Free The Children schools local or from North America?
Projects
In which countries does Free The Children work? Do you have staff on the ground in each of these countries?
How does Free The Children choose which countries and communities to work in?
How does Free The Children ensure its projects most benefit the community?
Does Free The Children work with governments? How do you deal with the issue of corruption?
Who builds Free The Children projects, such as schools and clean water systems?
Can I build the same school I fundraise for on an International Volunteer and Leadership Trip?
Why do other organizations have different project prices than Free The Children?
Can I do a letter or art exchange with the school I build?
What work do you do with HIV/AIDS?
Vow of Silence
Can I take the Vow of Silence on a different day than March 1?
What if I want to be silent for more than one day?
What exactly does it mean to be silent?
Can the money I raise go toward my Adopt a Village campaign?
If I can't talk, how will people know what I'm doing? Am I allowed to have a piece of paper to give to people?
Halloween for Hunger
Should we do anything before Halloween to prepare?
Can we pick where to give the food to?
Where can I find resources and helpful tips for my Halloween for Hunger campaign?
How should I follow up with Free The Children when I am finished my campaign?
Do you have a poster I can use or do I make one myself?
Celebrate for Change
Do I have to throw my Celebrate for Change party on my birthday?
Where can I find resources to support my campaign?
School projects
I'm doing a school project on Free The Children. How can I get more information?
Can you send me brochures for my event?
Are there any movies on Free The Children to show to my class or friends?
Where can I get more information on social issues?
Books
How much do books cost?
How can I make one of your books part of my classroom?
Financial
What is your administration cost? Why is it so much lower than many organizations?
Where does Free The Children's funding come from?
Where can I find your annual report and auditor's report?
Donations
Where do I send the money I have fundraised?
Should I send in small amounts of money as I fundraise, or should I wait until I've reached my goal?
Can I receive a tax receipt for a donation?
Can I create my own Free The Children bank account?
Can someone from Free The Children come pick up my check?
Speakers
Can someone from Free The Children come speak to my school, community group or conference?
How much does it cost for a speaker?
Can Craig or Marc Kielburger come speak at my school or event?
How do I become a youth speaker?
Where can I learn how to public speak?
GENERAL
What is Free The Children's mission?
Free The Children's mission is to free children from poverty and exploitation, and to empower young people to take action to improve the lives of their peers in developing countries.
Is Free The Children religiously affiliated?
Free The Children is not affiliated with any religion. However, many religious and spiritual groups support Free The Children's work to improve the lives of children.
Does Free The Children work with school boards?
Free The Children works with school boards in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia to educate students on global issues and empower them to take action. Many school boards have incorporated Take Action: A Guide to Active Citizenship by Craig and Marc Kielburger into their curricula.
Does Free The Children work with corporations?
Free The Children works with socially-minded corporations to help them support development projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Corporations play an important role, but youth are the driving force of Free The Children, raising 63 per cent of all funds received compared to 6 per cent from corporations.
Will Free The Children partner with my organization?
Free The Children recognizes the importance of working with other established organizations to further our common cause of creating a better world. We work with select organizations that have an established track record of social responsibility and whose mission is in line with Free The Children's mission.
Formal partnerships will be considered when significant benefit would be created for Free The Children as well as the potential partner.
Can I visit your office?
Yes! We look forward to meeting you.
The main Free The Children office is a three-story building located at 233 Carlton Street in Cabbagetown, Toronto, Canada. Historically, Cabbagetown was an area of the city said to smell of cabbages, a popular and inexpensive vegetable to eat. That's how it got its name.
Give us a call first at 1.416.925.5894, or drop by if you're in the neighbourhood.
How did Free The Children start?
Free The Children was founded by 12-year-old Craig Kielburger in 1995.
One morning before school, Craig was looking for the comics section in the Toronto Star newspaper, an article on the front page caught his eye. The headline read, "Battled child labour, boy, 12, murdered." The article told the story of Iqbal Masih, a young boy from Pakistan who had been sold into child labour at the age of four. He managed to escape and quickly became an international activist against child labour. At only 12 years old, Iqbal was murdered for speaking out.
Craig was outraged. He gathered 11 of his school friends to continue Iqbal's fight against the exploitation of children. Together, they started Free The Children. Today, Free The Children is the world's largest network of children helping children through education, having impacted more than one million young people in 45 countries.
Can I volunteer with Free The Children?
Yes! The best way to volunteer with Free The Children is by getting your friends and classmates together to help, just like Craig did. Free The Children Youth in Action groups raise awareness about global issues and take action to improve the lives of children. Start one today!
Volunteer opportunities are also available at the Free The Children office in Toronto, as well as in our project countries through International Volunteer and Leadership Trips offered by our partner organization Leaders Today.
What work does Free The Children do locally in North America?
In North America, Free The Children programs strengthen the leadership skills of young people so they can become catalysts of global change. Young people research and raise awareness on global issues such as poverty, child labour and lack of education. Then, with Free The Children's youth coordinators to support them along the way, they lead their peers in taking action.
Free The Children public speakers visit schools, conferences and community groups to inspire young people to recognize the power they have to change the world. Many youth choose to continue developing their skills through workshops offered by our partner organization Leaders Today, receiving training in public speaking, issues research, action planning, event planning and more.
What's the best way for me to get involved?
The best way to get involved with Free The Children is by getting your friends and classmates together to help, just like Craig did. Free The Children Youth in Action Groups raise awareness about global issues and work to improve the lives of children. Start one today!
Once you have a Youth in Action Group, take action together through one of Free The Children's campaigns: Adopt a Village, Vow of Silence, Halloween for Hunger or Celebrate for Change.
Is Free The Children a registered charity?
Yes we are! Free The Children is registered in Canada, the United States, Japan, China, Mexico, Kenya, Sri Lanka and other countries around the world. As a registered charity, Free The Children can provide a receipt for all donations 10 dollars or greater, allowing you or your donors to claim a tax deduction.
Our tax identification number in Canada is 88657 8095 RR0001 and our tax identification number in the United States is 501 (c)(3)-16-1533544.
My school doesn't really have a lot of money. Can I participate without fundraising?
Yes! Raising awareness is the most important part of taking action to change the world-and it doesn't have to cost a penny.
Every time you research child labour in the library, tell a friend about poverty at lunch or share a statistic with your family at dinner, you're raising awareness. Or take it to the next level with actions to reach a wider audience, such as making a speech to your class or designing a school-wide poster campaign.
How can I work for Free The Children?
Free The Children looks for candidates who are innovative, creative and passionate about ending child poverty and exploitation.
Internships are available to young leaders on a rotating basis. Our interns receive first-class training and experiences; they travel the world working with youth and advocate for children's rights. Full staff positions may also be available.
If you're interested, please visit the jobs section of the Free The Children website.
Communications
Can I use the Free The Children logo on my brochure, website, etc.? You may not use the Free The Children letterhead or logo in any form without specific written permission from Free The Children. If you have questions, contact the youth programming team at youth@freethechildren.com.
Can I link to the Free The Children website from my personal or group website?
Yes! As long as the content of your website is appropriate and consistent with the message of Free The Children, we would be honoured for you to link to our website.
Should I have my press releases approved by Free The Children?
We are excited to support your media efforts by reviewing your press releases. Our goal is to help you ensure accuracy and effectiveness. Prior to contacting the media, please e-mail your press releases to your youth coordinator.
Adopt a Village
What will I get when I register for the Adopt a Village campaign?
When you register for one of the three projects of the Adopt a Village campaign-the Brick by Brick: Schoolbuilding project, Alternative Income project or Clean Water project-you will receive a giant poster and stickers or paper bricks in the mail to track your fundraising progress.
Can I choose which project and which country my funds will support?
Yes. You can choose which type of Free The Children project you would like your funds to support. We will also link you with a community in the country you would like to support.
If possible, however, we encourage you to support the area of most need. This enables Free The Children to direct your funds to the country and project that need your help the most.
Can I support an Adopt a Village project in a country other than Kenya, Sierra Leone, China or Sri Lanka?
Not at this time. We are committed to ensuring quality projects by focusing on our work with partner communities in Kenya, Sierra Leone, China and Sri Lanka.
Can we collect in-kind donations-such as construction tools, medical supplies and school supplies instead of money?
We value all support, but it is most effective for Free The Children to receive funds as opposed to material donations.
This is due to the large expense and difficulty of transporting supplies, especially heavy items such as tools and textbooks, and because donated items may not be practical in all communities. With funds, Free The Children is able to purchase needed tools and supplies overseas, supporting local economies and ensuring that each item is used.
What's the actual cost of a school? Does the price include things such as teacher wages, desks and books?
On average, it costs $8,500 to build a one-classroom school. Items such as teacher wages, desks and books are not included in the cost.
Can I name the school I build?
To ensure that community members have a full sense of ownership of the school, donors are not able to name the schools they help to build. Communities feel a sense of pride when they name their own school in their local language.
If you'd like to help build a school in the name of a loved one, we'll work with you to find the best way to honour them.
Are the teachers in Free The Children schools local or from North America?
Teachers in Free The Children schools are trained and qualified members of the local community. The schools provide quality education in accordance with each country's local and national standards.
Projects
In which countries does Free The Children work? Do you have staff on the ground in each of these countries?
Free The Children works in Kenya, Sierra Leone, China and Sri Lanka. We have field offices and staff in Kenya, China and Sri Lanka, and we work with trusted local partners in Sierra Leone.
How does Free The Children choose which countries and communities to work in?
Free The Children chooses to work in countries and communities where a need exists and where we can work effectively. We develop relationships with local leaders and conduct needs assessments to ensure each community is a good fit and to direct future projects.
How does Free The Children ensure its projects most benefit the community?
We conduct needs assessments and build relationships with local leaders to determine which projects will most benefit the community and how best to implement them.
Does Free The Children work with governments? How do you deal with the issue of corruption?
Free The Children works with local governments on a regular basis. In certain situations, we simply let them know what we're up to. In other situations, we arrange ways for the government to help out, such as paying teacher salaries at a school built by Free The Children.
Free The Children avoids government corruption by implementing projects directly at the community level, which means no money passes through government hands.
Who builds Free The Children projects, such as schools and clean water systems?
Free The Children projects are built by local engineers, construction workers and community volunteers. In Kenya and China, certain schools are built by youth volunteers on International Volunteer and Leadership Trips run by our partner organization Leaders Today.
Can I build the same school I fundraise for on an International Volunteer and Leadership Trip?
Yes, in certain cases. If you fundraise for a school in China or Kenya, it may be possible to help build the school yourself on an International Volunteer and Leadership Trip run by our partner organization Leaders Today.
Why do other organizations have different project prices than Free The Children?
The project prices of various organizations over time are influenced by a variety of factors, including the location and accessibility of projects, political situations, currency fluctuation and extreme weather conditions.
The administrative cost of the organization also contributes to project prices. Free The Children is able to keep prices low because an average of 91 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to our development projects.
Can I do a letter or art exchange with the school I build?
Letter or art exchanges are usually not feasible due to language barriers, logistics and the rural nature of our projects.
What work do you do with HIV/AIDS?
Free The Children's primary weapon against HIV/AIDS is education. We run HIV/AIDS education programs to educate adults and children on HIV/AIDS and how to prevent it. Our mobile health clinic in Kenya is focused on combating this pandemic, providing one-on-one consultations and medication.
Vow of Silence
Can I take the Vow of Silence on a different day than March 1?
On March 1, thousands of young people around the world will take the Vow of Silence. As a symbol of solidarity, we encourage you to take your Vow of Silence on March 1, too. If you aren't able to, choose another day that works for you.
What if I want to be silent for more than one day?
Go for it! A great way to take your Vow of Silence to the next level is to be silent for two days, three days or even a week. If you're up the challenge, you'll be sure to raise more awareness and collect more pledges.
No matter how long you're silent, we encourage you to start your Vow of Silence on March 1 along with thousands of young people around the world.
What exactly does it mean to be silent?
Not talking is the main form of silence. You may also choose to avoid other forms of communication, such as e-mail, text messages, online messages, gestures and written notes.
Can the money I raise go toward my Adopt a Village campaign?
Yes! Taking the Vow of Silence is a great way to raise money for your Adopt a Village campaign. If you plan on taking the Vow of Silence and aren't yet involved in Adopt a Village, register now. We'll send you a giant poster to track your fundraising throughout your Vow of Silence and beyond.
If I can't talk, how will people know what I'm doing? Am I allowed to have a piece of paper to give to people?
That's a great idea. Since you won't be able to talk, we recommend creating an information sheet about the Vow of Silence, why you're participating and what people can do to support you.
Halloween for Hunger
Should we do anything before Halloween to prepare?
Before Halloween, distribute flyers to each house on your planned collection route. This way, people will have their canned food packed and ready for pick-up.
Can we pick where to give the food to?
Yes! Choose any food bank near you. Before Halloween, contact the food bank and tell them about your project.
Where can I find resources and helpful tips for my Halloween for Hunger campaign?
Download the Halloween for Hunger how-to guide.
How should I follow up with Free The Children when I am finished my campaign?
Call or e-mail your youth coordinator to let them know how your campaign went and how many food items you collected.
Do you have a poster I can use or do I make one myself?
There is no official Halloween for Hunger poster, so be creative! Poster suggestions can be found in the Halloween for Hunger how-to guide.
Celebrate for Change
Do I have to throw my Celebrate for Change party on my birthday?
A Celebrate for Change party is perfect for any celebration during the year, such as graduation, a year-end party, your friend's birthday or any other special day.
Where can I find resources to support my campaign?
Register online to receive your Celebrate for Change poster in the mail. Download the how-to guide, party checklist, invitations, thank you cards and more from the Celebrate for Change page.
School projects
I'm doing a school project on Free The Children. How can I get more information?
The best place to find information about Free The Children is at www.freethechildren.com. Explore the whole website, and pay special attention to the About Us section. Have fun!
Can you send me brochures for my event?
Yes! We would be happy to send you Free The Children brochures for your event. Contact your youth coordinator at least two weeks before your event to request them.
Are there any movies on Free The Children to show to my class or friends?
We have movies to introduce you and your friends to Free The Children, what we do and how you can do it, too. They are available for purchase online.
Short films about Free The Children are available for viewing online at www.freethechildren.com.
Where can I get more information on social issues?
Visit our Knowledge = Power section to find information on global issues, including children's rights, education and war-affected children. Still want more? The United Nations (UN) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) websites are great places to continue your research.
Books
How much do books cost?
The prices of Free The Children's books range from $20.00 to $21.95 plus shipping and handling. Special rates are available for bulk book purchases.
How can I make one of your books part of my classroom?
Free The Children's books are a great way to bring global issues into the classroom. Many school boards have incorporated Take Action: A Guide to Active Citizenship into their curricula. When you purchase the New York Times bestseller, Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World, you'll receive Creating We Schools: A Resource Guide for Educators for free. Browse more books here.
Financial
What is your administration cost? Why is it so much lower than many organizations?
An average of 91 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to Free The Children projects. We keeps our administrative costs low by effectively using our resources, relying on our dedicated volunteer base and receiving valuable in-kind donations, such as advertising.
Where does Free The Children's funding come from?
Free The Children's funding comes mainly from youth, who donate more than 60 percent of all funds received. Other sources of funding include foundations, adults, corporations and the government of Canada.
Where can I find your annual report and auditor's report?
Browse Free The Children's annual report here, and check out our auditor's report here.
Donations
Where do I send the money I have fundraised?
Make cheques out to Free The Children, and send them to the following address:
Free The Children
Attn: Your Youth Coordinator
233 Carlton St.
Toronto, ON
M5A 2L2 Canada
Please include the following information with your cheque:
- Your name, address, phone number and e-mail address
- The name of your group or school
- The country and project you would like your funds to support, if you have a preference
- The name, address, phone number, e-mail address and amount donated of any donor who would like a tax receipt
Should I send in small amounts of money as I fundraise, or should I wait until I've reached my goal?
We recommend you send in donations as you fundraise. If you'd like to keep saving until you reach your fundraising goal, just include a note letting us know you're still saving. We'll create an account for you and hold your funds until you tell us to put them to work.
Can I receive a tax receipt for a donation?
Donations of 10 dollars or more are eligible for tax receipts. When mailing funds to Free The Children, include the name, address, phone number, e-mail address and amount donated for each donor who would like a tax receipt.
Can I create my own Free The Children bank account?
Yes, but no bank account may be opened under the names Free The Children or Kids Can Free The Children.
Can someone from Free The Children come pick up my check?
It may be possible for a Free The Children representative to pick up your fundraising cheque or attend a cheque acceptance ceremony. Contact your youth coordinator for details.
Speakers
Can someone from Free The Children come speak to my school, community group or conference?
Free The Children speakers have extensive experience in addressing conferences, schools, business groups and gatherings of both youth and adults. Invite a speaker today!
How much does it cost for a speaker?
Speaker honorariums vary widely depending on the speaker, event and audience. E-mail speakers@freethechildren.com for details.
Can Craig or Marc Kielburger come speak at my school or event?
Craig and Marc are sometimes available for speaking engagements. E-mail speakers@freethechildren.com for more information.
How do I become a youth speaker?
Are you passionate about world issues? Do you want to educate your fellow students and motivate them to take action? Then you may want to be a Free The Children youth speaker. Find out more!
Where can I learn how to public speak?
At the annual Take Action! Academy, run by our partner organization Leaders Today, you will learn about global issues while practicing leadership skills such as public speaking.
Leaders Today also offers customizable Global Leadership Seminars on a variety of leadership skills and global issues.
Visit the We Generation Speak Out page for more information on public speaking.
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