Hi everyone,

It was a brisk January morning and the sun was just starting to melt the frost on the dirt trail that my dog and I were running on. I live in a rural area and it is rare to bump into someone on our daily trek. Today however, as we panted up the hill, a young woman about my age was walking down. I nodded and tried to push out a hello between breaths. She nodded, smiled back, and continued on her way.

About an hour later on my return home, I noticed the same woman waiting at the end of my street by the bus stop. Knowing that this was the only bus stop for the local international students who lived on campus nearby, I slowed and asked if she needed help. She responded with a beautiful accent, asking me if I knew when the bus would be arriving. I didn’t know, but said I could check at my house, and invited her along. … read more

Hola, Salam, Bonjour and Hello!

A few days ago, while waiting for a street car, I struck up a conversation with the person beside me, a Grade 10 student. Within a few minutes we were able to find our common interests, he liked playing X box while I preferred Wii. I preferred watching documentaries to reading, he was the opposite. While he seemed positive that spring was soon approaching, I firmly believed that we would never see the end of winter.

During our long ride, we discussed a range of issues, from the ever-deteriorating service of Toronto’s public transit to the Canadian military presence in Afghanistan. Is the United States ready for a Woman President or an African-American President? We both had so much to say and expressed a multitude of different perspectives. … read more

Hi Friends,

Monday was a chaotic commute to work. Streetcars were re-routed, subway trains were stalled and many people were late. The cause was a six-alarm fire on Queen Street West, one of Toronto’s hippest and most historical streets.

I’ve lived near the area for all of my six years in Toronto, spending much of my time visiting its one-of-a-kind boutiques, record stores, restaurants, and admiring the sidewalk art. This fire started in the middle of the night, destroying family businesses and homes. Although no one was hurt, many people are left with only the clothes on their backs. … read more

Hey there We-Thinkers!

A few weeks ago I had the amazing privilege of doing a speaking tour for the elementary schools and high schools in the Upper Canada School Board in Eastern Ontario. I already knew what amazing people the teachers and students from the area were and the incredible impact they have made through their years of support of Free The Children. … read more

Hi We Generation

Most people have heard the age-old saying: “If you give a man a fish, you can feed him for a day, but if you teach a man to fish you can feed him for a lifetime.” My own version’s a bit different: “If you teach a man to teach other men to fish, then you can feed a whole community.” … read more

Hi Friends,

For as far back as I can remember, Free the Children has been in my life in some aspect. My older brother and sister became involved when I was in elementary school by helping to raise money for schoolbuilding in Latin America. … read more

So you’re rolling along with your Adopt a Village campaign and preparing for the Vow of Silence at your school. But are you looking for another step to take as an individual? Right now we’re looking for your voice to share the importance of today’s most pressing social issues.

Go to the Speak Out page now to see some exciting ways you can take the next step:

- Youth Speakers Bureau: join our roster of student speakers to engage and inspire youth in your community!

- Global Voices: Our Junior Journalism program will put your name in print with Canada’s largest paper, the Toronto Star.

- High school and university students: show everyone your commitment to social issues. Take the global pledge for children and their families, society and the environment

Raise awareness, learn new skills and join Free The Children in our mission to empower others to change the world. We can’t wait to hear from you!

The Youth Team

The New Year brings with it a clean slate and the opportunity to make a change in our lives. It’s so easy to fall into old routines and bad habits. Wake up, go to school, come home, watch TV, all the while not realizing that we are in a funk. We take the opportunities available to us for granted and just keep up with this old, boring routine.

Let’s get our lives in action. There’s no reason to stay indoors just because the thermometer drops a little. Why not try a new sport or activity that you’ve never tried before. Snowshoeing anyone?

2008 is your chance to become a real We-thinker. When you find yourself getting into your old routine, think of all the children around the world who can’t even go to school or try some fun new activity. So why not get some classmates and friends together and start a Youth in Action Group to support Adopt a Village.

This year, let’s Be the Change

Happy New Year from the youth team!

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” -Ambrose Redmoon

By The Youth Team

As Free The Children youth coordinators we are able to meet so many extraordinary young people. At a speech last week, we met one particular boy whose courage amazes us.

Sarah, one of the youth coordinators, just finished presenting her Adopt A Village speech. She talked a little bit about her life in the speech, by telling a story about an experience she had in sixth grade when a group of classmates picked on her so much she left class crying. … read more