Abid Virani Interviews Craig Kielburger

Abid Virani interviews Craig Kielburger in Guelph, Ontario. Craig was visiting to speak at St. George's Church 175th anniversary and Abid was volunteering for Rogers Television at the time. At the conclusion of the meeting, Abid told Craig about his wishes to start an organization. With encouragement and support, today, Student Reach International is a national non-profit organization engaging thousands of students through various initiatives. Check out www.student-reach.com and Craig's organization, www.freethechildren.com

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Abid Virani
• Abid
• Virani
• Student Reach International
• Student Reach
• Reach In
• Reach Out
• Reach Beyond
• Me to We
• Craig Kielburger
• Kielburger
• Free the Children
• Global Citizenship
• Student Involvement
• Guelph
• Centennial CVI

[twobitteeple]

My 8 year old brother wants to go to India with Free theC hildren. I understand how rewarding it is, but I mean, he's just a baby! What if he gets hurt? *shudder*

[RegalRookie]

What an incredible thing to hear that an eight year old boy wants to go across the world to help those in need. How inspired we all should be. I realize how a family, parents, siblings might respond to that. I would suggest making a compromise, making him work a little bit for that opportunity. Then, I would probably go with my younger brother if it was him, I would not be able to send him alone if it was me either but if he wanted to do it, I would go with him and support him through it.

Wow.

[assassinscreedps3123]

he wentto my school

[ChuChu838]

@billytinkler. when you go on a trip, free the children doesn't pay for airfare, lodging or chaperones. you pay for all of it yourself. instead of going on vacation to europe, i went to kenya.

and the 8 year olds are on the family vacation trips. their parents are with them at all times of course. its not even remotely close to child labour.

[qricketvid]

@billytinkler Though I was being a little facetious about the whole child labor-esque aspects of the program, I thought you raised a good point. I agree with you that the funds spent on airfare, lodging and chaperons might be better spent in direct investment. And I am going to leave the whole carbon footprint thing alone....lol

[billytinkler]

@qricketvid well most of them are high school aged. what you really needed to catch was the fact that sending these kids, though it undoubtedly provides them with an amazing experience, is grossly inefficient - each kid spends between four and five thousand dollars on this trip - if twenty kids go... now think about what all that money can do if it were invested drectly instead of going towards plane tickets? not to mention the carbon footprint...

[artsy25]

No because they would volunteer themselves and child labour is "forced".

[qricketvid]

Ok, I know I am going to get a lot of flak for this posting but...

Did anyone else catch that the organization brings about 1000 volunteer children as young as 8 years old from Canada to build schools, teach English, or work in hospitals? I mean techinically wouldn't that constitute child labor?

[mjf140369]

Thanks for the answer!

[ericafromcanada]

yes, it's a free the children thing that you earn. I have one for example.

[nyvbyay]

HE IS SOOOOOOOOOOO HOTTTTTTTT!!!!!!

[strawberrynaina]

he's cute!