Organization Profile: Free The Children

by Fabian Musefano, SCPA Intern for Apathy is Boring — April 22, 2008

Free the Children

Founded by one of the most recognizable children’s rights advocates, Craig Kielburger, Free the Children is an organization whose focus is to free all children from poverty, exploitation, and abuse. FTC believes that these goals can be achieved through education, domestic empowerment programs and leadership training. By inspiring young people to become socially conscious global citizens, FTC aims to uplift children’s living conditions. With both the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child and Human Rights and an award from the World Association of Non-governmental Organizations under its belt, FTC has become an influential player in the international NGO community. Not only does it partner with prominent philanthropy organizations such as Oprah’s Angel Network, and leading humanitarian agencies like CIDA and World Medical Relief, but it also has attracted the support of well-known corporations such as the Toronto Star, National Bank Financial, Nokia, and many others.

The issues

Free the Children addresses child exploitation, poverty, lack of education globally, child abuse and other issues that slow children’s effective and productive development.

How to get involved

Free the Children’s mission to educate every child in the world needs all the support it can get.  Donating money, however small or large the amount, can make a difference in a child’s life. You can also contribute through the Adopt the Village program, wherein volunteers teach in villages, assist in reconstruction efforts for victims of natural disasters, and participate in other humanitarian efforts. Volunteering overseas with FTC’s partners is also an option for getting involved. One of the most popular programs is the Youth Action Groups, where members can learn about issues affecting children globally, gain fundraising skills, send school and health kits to overseas students, and participate in other initiatives.  If you’re looking for a speaker to inspire and motivate others during an event, Craig Kielburger is one of those ready to answer the call. The “Get Educated” link on FTC’s website provides a comprehensive overview of the issues children face around the world and breaks down actions you can take to contribute. Check it out here.

Interesting facts about Free the Children

Free the Children has built more than 500 schools around the world and has reached more than one million children through its campaigns. This is a remarkable number considering the fact that FTC was founded by a bunch of 12-year-old students! One of FTC’s most notable partners is Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network. Together the two have successfully built 59 schools in 12 countries. They jointly launched the O Ambassadors program, a project that reaches out to schools in North America to inspire young students to become active, compassionate, and knowledgeable global citizens. For more details click here.

Source:Free The Children