Fifteen years later, Free the Children is thriving and to date has built 500 schools and implemented more than 2,000 alternative income projects in 45 developing countries.
Kielburger, 27, spoke at the Ottawa International Writers Festival about a book he wrote with his brother Marc Kielburger and Ottawa Citizen journalist Shelley Page. The book is titled The World Needs Your Kid: How to Raise Children Who Care and Contribute.
Kielburger spoke from the heart and provided many personal anecdotes. He recalled being chosen to participate in a panel headed by the Dalai Lama that discussed the greatest challenge facing the world. How do we change the scenario in which we are raising a generation of passive bystanders?
“The most influential people are not politicians and CEOs,” said Kielburger. “The most powerful influences are people’s parents and teachers.” Kielburger was greatly influenced by his mother, a compassionate woman whose works of charity were an example to her sons.
This central question resonated with the Kielburger brothers. During the course of their work with Free the Children, many people asked a corresponding question: How do we inspire kids to care and become active citizens?
Craig and his brother Marc collaborated with Ottawa Citizen journalist Shelley Page to respond to this challenge. The resulting book offers many practical tips and insights for parents. The book emphasizes the importance of small actions resulting in positive outcomes. Each chapter provides a list of actions that can help your children learn to care and contribute. For example, raising a pet helps a child to develop compassion and a sense of responsibility.
The book talks about raising kids using the three Cs of compassion, courage, and community. “This will nurture empathy, challenge materialism, and provide modeling behaviour.”
Kielburger also stressed the importance of children volunteering and said that studies have shown that such work benefits youth enormously. He also believes that children should be reminded that they are all gifted at something and have something valuable to offer.
Kielburger generously acknowledged the contributions made by his brother Marc as well journalist Shelley Page, who took time out of her full-time job and raising her own two children to assist with the writing. He also praised the patience and hard work of the editor, Sue Allen.
CBC broadcaster Adrian Harewood was on hand for a discussion after Kielburger’s enthusiastic presentation. Harewood said that young people were often underestimated. Kielburger agreed, saying that youth have been involved in every major social change the world has seen.
He spoke of how his parents had given he and his brother freedom, but also challenged them. For example, although they allowed him to travel to Asia when he was just 12 to research child labour in Pakistan, they also set the parameters for the trip.
When Harewood asked at what age it is appropriate to tell children about bad things happening in the world Kielburger said this depended on the situation. He emphasized that the important thing is to always give children a way to help people in negative situations, such as dropping off food at the local food bank.
Another point that Harewood raised was children with abusive parents, who cannot set an example for their kids. Kielburger acknowledged the importance of mentors, and praised groups such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters. He shared that being a member of Scouts helped to make him who he was.
“It takes a village to raise a child,” he reminded the audience.
Joyce MacPhee is an Ottawa writer and editor.
