To save your spot for the 2009 Take Action! Academy.  


Recognize an amazing Canadian by nominating them for a Me to We Award!


Students are silent around the world to help children in rural Kenya.


See how loud a child in Ecuador can get when they have the chance to go to school.


An Outreach Coordinator on the success of the Free The Children Leadership Conference!

Together, our voices are clear


Spencer West was an incredible keynote speaker at the Free The Children Leadership this year

On Saturday, January 17, 150 young people representing over 60 schools came together at the Free The Children Youth Leadership Conference. In a day filled with interactive workshops and issues discussions, it was clear from the start that a passionate energy was in the air—giving the young people in attendance a chance to share their ideas, have their voices heard and push social change to a whole new level.

After arriving very early for a weekend morning, the students listened to a keynote address by motivational speaker, Spencer West. Throughout the day they participated in workshops on topics ranging from “the Amazing Youth In Action Group challenge” to Free The Children’s development projects in India, our newest Adopt A Village country. At the end of the day everyone rocked out to the music of Louise Kent and had the opportunity to ask Mark Kielburger questions.

Sitting in workshops at the conference, it became clear that the youth leaders present are really speaking out for children's rights. Through fundraisers, awareness raisers, custom T-shirts or dance-a-thons, they’re breaking the silence and speaking out against the injustices of the world.


Participants pose with Marc Kielburger after his speech
This year, the Free The Children team was thrilled to fly three contest winners to Toronto to participate in the conference. Arin from New Mexico, Dominique from Nanaimo, B.C and Nicole from New Westminster, B.C. beat out dozens of other youth to be a part of this incredible experience. The girls met many of the Free The Children team and networked with the 147 other incredible youth leaders present. “The experience was not merely exciting; exciting doesn’t do it justice!” said Dominique.

Following the conference, each of these “Free The Children Champions” have returned to their schools with the goal of engaging their peers to make a difference in the world, using the new knowledge and skills they’ve gained. We can’t wait to see the difference they’ll make!

 


Free The Children is the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has an established track-record of success, with three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah’s Angel Network.
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