Seeking inspiration at the Millennium Summit Youth Forum

The Montreal Millennium Summit met on November 8, 2007, to discuss the advancement of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals. This year, a youth forum of approximately 500 young people came together for inspiration from speakers like former child soldier Ishmael Beah, Marc Kielburger of Free The Children and Andrée Ruffo, retired judge and activist for children’s causes.

On November 9, these speakers were joined by actress and activist Mia Farrow, actor and activist Michael Douglas and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to address a wider audience and highlight the urgent need for action to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Interview with Craig Kielburger:

What can youth do to help make a change in the future?

If you look at every social justice movement through history, its always been led by young people. From youth who march at the front of the marches in India, to the people who were shot in Tiananmen Square, to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, youth have always been at the forefront.

All the issues that I am talking about here today are only going to shift when young people make it an issue politically, economically and socially. Only when the change starts here will the change strike forward. This is the challenge for our generation.

Emphasizing the importance of peace, Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke at the Millennium Summit

 Former Prime Minister Paul Martin mentioned at the conference that Canada needs to focus on providing help within Canadian borders, as most of the aid coming from Canada has provided help for other countries. What is your response?

It’s a bit of a myth that most of it leaves the country. The vast majority stays within our own borders, which is important, because the need is right here at home. 

Our members [at Free The Children] do campaigns such as Halloween for Hunger. This last week [October 31, 2007], a thousand chapters across Canada’s provinces went trick-or-treating for non-perishable food to give to local food banks.

But when people say it starts at home, where is home? Why should some arbitrary border decide if a child lives or dies? 

We have problems in this country, absolutely. But when you look at the greatest need in this world, without a doubt everyone would agree: Sub Saharan Africa.

We have an infant mortality rate in some countries that is through the roof: one in eight women die in childbirth, while one in five children in Sub Saharan Africa never reach their fifth birthday.

These numbers are incomparable with anything else.

If people say charity starts at home, the question I ask is: where is home?

This interview was conducted by Monica Lafon. She is a Journalism and Political Science student at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec.

Helpful Hints from Helpful Links

Get more information on the Montreal Millennium Summit
Learn more about the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
Learn how to provide universal primary education for children across the globe

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.