Keeping our promise for a better tomorrow
Last year in North America and Europe, roughly $18 billion (US) was spent on cosmetics, with another $17 billion (US) on pet food. In Europe alone, close to $20 billion (US) was spent on ice cream.
Fast Facts
The Millennium Development Goals
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- Achieve universal primary education
- Promote gender equality and empower women
- Reduce child mortality
- Improve maternal health
- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- Ensure environmental sustainability
- Develop a global partnership for development
The cost to achieve universal primary education? Only $10 billion dollars (US).
Everyday we live in a world of imbalance. As our population grows, so does the gap between the rich and the poor. We have to ask ourselves, how long are we going to let this go on?
In September 2000, more than 150 world leaders asked themselves this very same question. Over the span of three days history was made as the largest gathering of world leaders convened in New York to discuss the United Nations role in the new century. This three-day summit resulted in the creation of the Millennium Development Goals.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the world's time-bound targets for addressing extreme poverty, promoting gender equality, providing universal primary education and achieving environmental sustainability. [1].
What do we need to do to reach these goals?
Fast Facts
- Half the world—nearly three billion people—lives on less than two dollars a day.
- 30,000 children die each day due to poverty.
- 1 billion children currently live in poverty—nearly half the world’s children.
With a deadline of 2015 to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, it’s time to take action. There are many organizations around the world dedicated to approaching these issues in new and creative ways and they need the support of young people like you. Here are some tangible ways to make a difference with Free The Children:
- Support Clean Water and Sanitation projects: By participating in the Adopt a Village Clean Water campaign, you will raise awareness of the importance of clean water and sanitation as well as fundraise to implement clean water projects in developing countries.
- Support the Brick by Brick campaign: Adopt a Village: Brick by Brick is a schoolbuilding and educational programming campaign that works to address the lack of quality primary education in developing countries. You will help raise awareness and fundraise to build and equip a school in some of the most marginalized regions of the developing world.
- Wear your ethics: Choose responsible clothing made without sweatshop labour. Choose those sold by Me to We: [Responsible Style] and have 50% of the profits go to Free The Children.
Helpful Hints from Helpful Links
Learn more about Adopt a Village and the countries in which Free The Children works
Learn more about the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
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. |
