The Szabo Brothers

Brothers Kyle and Ryan Szabo have been committed to helping children since before they entered Kindergarten. After seeing a television program about the challenges children face in developing countries, Kyle began collecting gently used clothing and toys, donating a big load to an international charity every year. As soon as Ryan was old enough, he joined his brother in taking action. Kyle is eight years old and in Grade 3; Ryan is five years old and in Senior Kindergarten.

Miss Bank, a teacher at Bloorlea Middle School in Toronto and a fellow teacher of their father, heard about Kyle and Ryan’s selfless actions and invited them to speak to her Grade 8 class. The students were amazed at how young Kyle and Ryan were, expressing in many thank you cards how the boys had impressed and inspired them. What struck the students most was the dream Kyle shared with them: to build a pipeline that stretches across the ocean floor from Canada all the way to Africa to provide the continent with clean and safe water.

Another teacher, Arnold Nath, was also impressed by the boys and asked them to join his White Team, a group of young people selling white wristbands to build a school in Kenya through Free The Children. The brothers decided to get their school involved, too, approaching the administration at Saginaw Public School and receiving permission to sell the wristbands.

Even at their young ages, Kyle and Ryan realized that sometimes people need a little material motivation to donate money. They went from business to business asking for donations to be used as prizes people could win when they purchased a wristband. Within a few weeks, the boys received donations from movie theatres, restaurants, video rental stores and more. Kyle and Ryan even arranged pizza and donut parties for the classes at Saginaw Public School purchasing the most wristbands. Their efforts paid off: they sold more than 450 wristbands.

The Szabo brothers succeeded in getting another school involved, the W.G. Davis Senior Public School in Cambridge, Ontario. The Grade 7 and 8 students were so impressed by what Kyle and Ryan were doing that they created an awareness campaign for the school. The highlight of the campaign was a school-wide assembly with skits, a slide show about poverty and an interview with Kyle and Ryan. Students came up to them afterwards to talk with them and, to the boys’ surprise, some asked for their autographs. After their visit, 246 wristbands were sold at W.G. Davis in only two days.

When Ryan is asked how he feels about the work he does for children, his response is always the same: “Happy.” Ryan explains, “I just feel happy because I want them to have a safe school and I’m happy I’m helping build a safe school.”

When Kyle is asked the same question, he responds, “I feel proud because I like helping people and I feel if everyone would help just a little bit, Africa could turn into a place like here.”

Kyle and Ryan’s efforts continue to grow as more people are inspired by their passion, sometimes attracting well-deserved attention. They have been profiled in local newspapers and on local radio stations. Kyle received the Young Star Award, presented by Community Action by Youth, and Ryan is a likely future recipient. To date, the Szabo brothers have raised $1,100 toward projects to help children in developing countries, as well as raising awareness of children’s rights issues in their community.

Kyle and Ryan have accomplished many things. Their mother, Karen Szabo, points out that, in spite of their age, they do more to help than most adults. Kyle and Ryan’s future goal is to travel to Africa one day to visit the kids in person.

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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.