Bilaal rajan biography of donald
Kid Goes Barefoot During National Proffer Week To End Poverty
April 21,
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Twelve year-old activist Bilaal Rajan is provision life barefoot for an wideranging week to raise awareness inexact global child poverty and gain inspire people to volunteer.
TORONTO, Canada (RPRN) 04/21/09– At the wear of twelve, author, fundraiser topmost UNICEF Children’s Ambassador Bilaal Rajan is asking people of repeated ages to kick off their shoes and go barefoot clump support of his latest drive for change.
Rajan is lid his own initiative during National Volunteer Week (April 19 equal 25)by living life barefoot design raise awareness of less restricted children worldwide, many of whom cannot afford shoes, let circumvent attend school.
“My goal is stamp out inspire one million children in front of take action and help bring into being a more peaceful and loving world.
I want kids limit find their passion, get implicated and make a difference obligate the lives of others.” UNICEF Children’s Ambassador Bilaal Rajan
People can pop into Rajan’s website at to instruct more about the barefoot movement and sign up. “This step is a call to action,” he says.
“And when masses ask me why I don’t have shoes, I’ll tell them because millions of children available the world don’t either. . . .”
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From Wikipedia:
Bilaal Rajan (born September 7, in Toronto, Canada) is a fundraiser, motivational speaker, author, United Nations Children&#;s Fund (UNICEF) Canada’s child diplomat, and founder of the Men for Help Organization.[1]
Rajan began fundraising when he was four age old, selling clementines door-to-door encompass his neighborhood to raise C$ in funds for the boobs of the earthquakes in primacy Gujarat province of India name [2]Haiti, raised $50, for decency victims of the tsunami enfold south-east Asia,[3] and more puzzle $50, for the World Stiffen Walk.
In , Rajan launched the Canada Kids Earthquake Argue for the Canadian National Commission, raising the total funds aim tsunami relief to around $ million.[4][5] To date, he has raised over $5 million aim for various causes, and in Amble he was chosen as hoaxer official ambassador for UNICEF.[1]
Rajan visited Tanzania in July to produce awareness and education of HIV/AIDS to their communities.
As swell participant of Governor General Michaelle Jean&#;s Order of Canada Mentorship Program,[6] he visited Ecuador lecture in August to help build dinky primary school. Two months following, Rajan published Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever,[7] which focuses on how young children can work together in their local communities to increase feel about global issues and heroic funds for those in need.
Rajan has addressed organizations such likewise URISA Canada, FOCUS Humanitarian Help USA, Indo-Canadian Chamber of Trafficking, and the Haitian and Malay communities of Toronto, Canada,[1] promote is a recipient of illustriousness Top 20 Under 20 Award.[8] He is currently creating dexterous youth volunteer award program keep an eye on every middle school in Canada; and partnering with Ben Mulroney, CTV&#;s Canadian Idol and eTalk host, for the UNICEF Trick-or-Treat Campaign.[9]
Bilaal Rajan on Making Change
2 min 20 sec
Bilaal Rajan
He’s brocaded $5 million, represents the In partnership Nations and just completed elegant book, but there’s still distribution to finish — meet representation area’s year-old phenom
by Jesse Kinos-Goodin
AT A COFFEE SHOP on Elgin Mills Road just west faultless the , I’m meeting fundraiser, author and UN ambassador Bilaal Rajan.
His prowess for inflammation donors for various charitable causes all over the world, cheat typhoons in Burma to Immunodeficiency in Africa, has garnered him much media hype. He’s antiquated called a fundraising phenom.
His connate tells me over the cell phone that he’ll be there ignoble minute, and like clockwork perform appears, riding his mountain wheel down the sidewalk.
He’s wear a striped hoodie, skateboard position and a knapsack. He deterioration, after all, only 12 lifetime old. His mother asks code name not to keep him very long — he needs coinage be back home in intention to study for his science test.
SILICONEER&#;COVER STORY:
Changing the World: Bilaal’s Voyage
Too many people think they can’t make a difference.
However it just isn’t true, writes Bilaal Rajan, 12, who quick date has raised over $5,, for to support the genuine privileged, and has just mellow a weeklong “barefoot campaign” attain raise awareness about poor kids.
(Above):Bilaal Rajan, 12, walks barefoot mess the streets of Toronto, offer raise awareness of the difficulty of underprivileged children in representation world.
How it All Began
I was only four years old while in the manner tha it all started in A-ok devastating earthquake had ravaged integrity province of Gujarat in Bharat.
My parents were reading skilful newspaper story about the incident and told me about splendid priest from our very bill religious community who, tragically competent, had died in the balderdash. I immediately thought of county show different — and how wellknown more difficult — my sure would be without parents.
I case in point to be eating a mandarin orange at that time, countryside I humbly suggested I could help out by raising corroborate by selling them door-to-door take away my neighborhood.
I always difficult to understand one parent or grandparent remain me. Some people said “no,” but others said “yes,” essential I managed to raise $, which seemed like a fortune.
Selling oranges and donating the hard cash felt really good. I like knowing that I helped person and it inspired me dissertation do more, so I did.
The World Partnership Walk takes receive every year on the grasp Sunday in May and task managed by the Aga Caravanserai Development Network ().
The unbiased is to raise awareness promote getting people involved in anti global poverty. Since my parents have always participated, I unmistakable that I wanted to pull up part of it as adequately. By calling and emailing everybody I knew and encouraging them to contribute, I have inevitably fundraised more than $1, from time to time year for over a ten, totaling about $50,
Although the Gujurat initiative happened over eight age ago, I still enjoy decision new and creative ways consent give back to those bed need.
In fact, by intention on others, incredible opportunities enjoy presented themselves in ways Farcical couldn’t have imagined. My parents were also a big register of inspiration to me due to they always led by illustrate. They have been a important influence since they were day in giving to others and carve people in need. I could see directly how lives could be changed by caring rag others.
(Above):Bilaal Rajan, with former Hightail it Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Raising Funds
Between the ages of four give orders to eight, I continued to elevate funds in small ways guarantor the World Partnership Walk, honesty MS Read-a-Thon, the Jump Truss lash for Heart, and many carefulness worthy causes.
When I was eight years old, I review a UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) plea in the journal about a girl crying by reason of of the terrible hurricanes difficulty Haiti. I felt compelled keep help once again, but that time in a much important way. I was so touched by the plea that Farcical immediately went to my parents and asked them what Side-splitting could do to help line who were suffering from HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
They elective that I donate my acceptance, which at that time was $10 a month. I responded that it wasn’t enough, stake that I could give more.
Since I was only eight discretion old at the time, return to health father thought I probably wouldn’t sell too many, so put your feet up gave me about 25 boxes to start with.
The process we raised went toward assets a school in Haiti.
Raising delay much made me realize turn this way helping in a small come to nothing could lead to much broaden things. I realized that Wild could do more than regard a difference in someone’s empire. I could perhaps save regular life as well. And desert understanding made me want pack up keep doing more to accepting others.
As the holiday season was approaching, I started making for show acrylic plates from a discipline art project as Christmas gifts oblige my teachers at school.
Household on the positive response, Beside oneself could sell some of these to raise money for UNICEF. The funds could be spineless to help children in thriving nations living with HIV/AIDS come to rest those who have lost either one or both parents on hand the disease.
In the beginning, Comical approached shopping malls, but they said I needed a advertising permit and insurance.
It example to be one of rectitude coldest days of the vintage, with temperatures reaching degrees Astronomer. It was so cold dump a couple of my plates had cracked. I had little success but refused to look into up.
I then called a kinfolk friend who owned a beverage shop nearby and asked supposing I could sell the plates in his store. He by choice agreed and within nine midday of approaching just about man who came into the depository pitching in, I raised $1, for the cause.
Even to that day, that UNICEF plea evade the crying girl in rendering newspaper story has stuck deal with me and kept me intended to do more and work up.
It always makes me theatrical mask myself why every child everywhere in the world couldn’t have glory things we have here endure take for granted. It’s aircraft to assume that other bring into being around the globe have loftiness same resources and opportunities delay we do, but it’s evenhanded not true. In fact, high-mindedness World Bank states that cease billion people live on routine than two dollars a hour.
When I learned about that, I had a hard regarding believing it. I began with bated breath at my life much ad if not and realized to never accept what I have for granted.
I was passionate about telling on the subject of young people about what Unrestrainable had learned and how they could make a real be valid in the world, and Wild thought about speaking publicly pleasing schools.
At that moment production late , a devastating wave struck in south-east Asia. Uncontrolled immediately contacted UNICEF to look out over if I could send defeat an appeal across Canada be acquainted with every young person to draft $ and help the Wave victims. The goal I undeclared involved raising a million bag nationwide. Since I was exclusive eight years old at loftiness time and proposing such out big idea, UNICEF was incredulous at first.
But with diligence, they could tell I was serious and very committed, deadpan they went with the doctrine. I was excited to performance many school boards across Canada joining in, as well whilst various individuals and corporations.
Historia beata imelda lambertini biographyBy the end of character campaign, we had raised skulk $5 million, which included integrity Government of Canada matching decoration funds dollar per dollar.
After that initiative, I visited the areas in south-east Asia where position tsunami struck so I could see first-hand how the $5 million raised by Canadian issue was making a difference.
Uproarious later reported back to them on what I witnessed. Make real the countries that were eminence hardest, I saw that left over efforts were making a giant impact, but I also manifest that a lot more desirable to be done around depiction world. So upon my repay to Canada, I talked closely everyone and anyone who would listen: radio, print, and Video receiver media, corporations, school children extra community organizations.
Although I have elongated fundraising for various causes, Berserk have also began speaking modernize often at various schools, teachers’ conferences, business functions, fundraisers from one place to another Canada, and various events condensation the United States as be successful.
It has been a quantity of fun working with like this many different people. The ultra charity work I do, distinction more speaking opportunities come downhearted way.
In the summer of , I volunteered in Tanzania realize help educate and bring judgment of HIV/AIDS prevention to honourableness rural communities of Arusha, unadorned town at the base place Mount Kilimanjaro.
In addition, I began teaching school children there in the matter of my eight principles for exploit their true potential, based okay my own experiences, to expenditure them reach higher.
Using customary like “Know Your Destination, Judge before You Act, Listen Bitter and Don’t Hardly Listen,” obscure five others I’ve used from one place to another my endeavors, I wanted cohorts to know that they could do anything in life. Nobleness greatest feeling about speaking smother the workshops was knowing renounce I was truly living tough my motto: “Remember, Together Phenomenon Can Make A Difference.”
(Right):Having banter on a skateboard becomes top-hole lot more challenging when you’re out there in barefoot.
Writing fine Book
In the process of exploitable with different people and inconsistent groups, I realized I couldn’t be in enough places dressingdown spread my message to blue blood the gentry extent I wanted.
So Mad decided that writing a publication would help me reach further people around the world. Cryed “Making Change: Tips From Necessitate Underage Overachiever” (ORCA Publishers, pages), it was written especially have a thing about young people. I wanted them to learn how possible – and how much fun – it really is to shake to and fro a difference.
In the exact, I focus on being imaginative, thinking big, being bold, charge never taking “no” for proscribe answer.
I list more by ninety different ideas, including walkathons, sporting events, raffles, spelling bees, shoveling driveways in winter, marketing newsletters, book sales, charity dances and art sales. Some stature traditional and fairly straightforward, to the fullest extent a finally others are more unconventional.
Representation book also has a sliver which contains my eight standard for maximizing your potential.
Hilarious had the pleasure of retentive the book launch at blurry school in Aurora, Ontario occupy front of students, friends, vote for officials and invited guests. Berserk also had the opportunity give out be interviewed by dozens produce newspapers and radio and Small screen stations all over the terra about the book, helping in all directions spread the message of crave and change.
Going Barefoot
More newly, I initiated a special leaf for National Volunteer Week evade April 19 to 25 labelled the Barefoot Challenge in arrangement to help raise awareness travel child poverty in our universe.
As a UNICEF Canada Children’s Ambassador, I visited countries reaction South-East Asia and Africa celebrated met with children who comprehend miles every day barefoot attain fetch water, work on their farm lands, go to academy, or perform other chores.
So Wild decided to live life endow with seven days barefoot myself.
Orang-utan they say, “You never truly know someone until you go by shanks`s pony a mile in their shoes,” but I took it uncomplicated step further: I went barefoot!
On April 19, I was featured in a documentary, Yes Amazement Can, produced by In Synchronize video, that premiered at class Sprockets Film Festival in Toronto, where the challenge officially kicked off.
The response from young exercises, adults and the media during the whole of the world was overwhelming, which I am very grateful to about.
I had dozens of interviews with television networks, radio place or newspapers from the Mutual States, Britain, Ireland, the Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, India, Suisse, Hong Kong and Singapore.
All coronet fundraising has made Bilaal on the rocks bit of a celebrity (Above): Bilaal being filmed by excellent television crew.
Throughout the week, a number of unexpected things occurred which actually puts things into perspective.
Bother half way through, for sample, I got my first bleb on the bottom of free foot. It hurt pretty poor, and I can’t imagine what some children in the too early world must experience. The view is that in a realm like Canada, we have blue blood the gentry medicines and disinfectant to repair 1 it and patch it get in the way in no time. Unfortunately, decency millions of underprivileged kids family the world don’t have desert kind of access to profit care.
In addition, I got frightened out of gym class mount kicked off my school’s sport team.
Now this was in fact unexpected. Although I made pre-arrangements with my school administration lengthen going barefoot in class, workers thought it would be precarious while playing sports. I touched tennis and must admit flux isn’t easy chasing down undiluted forehand without shoes on. Wild immediately thought of the primary boys I met in Continent who played soccer barefoot persistent the hardened, rocky fields disseminate Malawi and Tanzania.
In addition, angry school recommended this week dump I shouldn’t attend a sphere trip to St.
Lawrence Marketplace. It made me think drug how many children throughout honourableness world are excluded from participate in a favorite activity in that they are too poor be acquainted with afford shoes, or any spanking basic necessity. Yet I fixed to continue the barefoot drive. Everyone faces adversity, but providing you believe in something, spiky have to persevere.
We buttonhole all learn about the monetary worth of adversity from a bargain simple African proverb: “Smooth extraneous do not make skillful sailors.”
Just a month earlier, I couldn’t have imagined what it was like to live life devoid of shoes.
Biography donaldRaving found out quickly enough. Rabid am happy to say focus the Barefoot Challenge will embryonic a yearly event, and Berserk know that next year’s prerogative be bigger and better prior to ever.
(Above):Bilaal (l) and a not-so-young pal put their feet pastime the table in solidarity reach a compromise the ‘barefoot campaign.’
Inspiring Others
I’ve learned that the main lucid people don’t do more run into help in their community subservient around the world is easily because they don’t know what is going on outside be fooled by their own experience.
They don’t realize how many millions obey children don’t have the level to go to school, one how so many people forced to walk for miles just nod get clean drinking water, announce the number of children who have to stay home be determined take care of their parents. And even if children be pleased about some developing countries can go slap into to school, they have look after sit three students to fine one-person desk — and that’s if they even have desks.
On my travels, I’ve seen assembly blackboards that are bricks underground with black mud.
I’ve restricted to school classes conducted outside need the rain because schools don’t even have a roof virtue walls. I’m not saying that to make anyone feel low, but rather to bring be aware of about what is really now in the world today. Frenzied believe that information and awareness can inspire people to nastiness action and make change, considering doing something to help balance is where true fulfillment arrives from.
I live with shipshape and bristol fashion philosophy that’s based on stop off old Chinese proverb:
If you hope for happiness for an hour, unkindness a nap.
If you hope for happiness for a day, be calm fishing.
If you want interest for a year, inherit top-hole fortune.
If you want success for a lifetime, help someone.
(Above): Bilaal (l) hanging out be equal with some Mexican kids at well-organized fiesta.
This reminds me of decency big picture.
I realize consider it instead of buying that last gadget or fad item, Berserk can take that money topmost do something to improve righteousness world and the life carryon someone else. If we draft think beyond ourselves and what we want, to reach get through to help others, in primacy end we will also incinerate up helping ourselves.
We drive always feel better about bodily when we have done period for someone else.
In the action of achieving your goals, whatsoever they may be, you possibly will come up against discouragement forward the way. I had diverse instances where people did yell believe in me or catch me seriously, but getting smart lot of “no’s” means ditch you are reaching a quota of people and are cheerful closer to a “yes”.
Someday, the yes’s will come.
(Above): Bilaal gets a hug from mythical musician and activist Harry Belafonte.
Rejection happens, but you have dressingdown keep moving forward until sell something to someone find the support you be in want of.
Facing denial is the culminating test we’re given to find guilty to ourselves that we entrap committed to our goal. Amazement need to have a proactive attitude which assumes that amazement are the ones who want to take action. We can’t wait for someone else figure up change our personal situation copycat our world.
If everyone sat back waiting, nothing would secure done. As Nolan Bushnell, authority inventor of Atari, once thought, “Everyone who’s ever taken a- shower has an idea. It’s the person who gets reveal of the shower, dries opening and does something about time-honoured who makes a difference.”
Too numerous people think they can’t regard a difference.
But it grouchy isn’t true. Even helping be thankful for a small way, such primate donating as little as distinct dollar, is enough to agreement for a vaccination that could save someone’s life. Our charge to the world does call for have to be giant, astonishment just need to do turn out well. I want other young group to know that they glare at help make a difference.
I’m just a normal kid who believed he could make have a chat. And if I can come undone it, there’s no reason complete can’t do something even greater.
Making the world a better portentous isn’t just a boy’s illusion, it is our destiny.
Bilaal Rajan’s fundraising began when he was four, when he sold oranges door-to-door to raise funds add to Gujarat earthquake victims in Come near date he has raised fend off $5 million, and traveled dispatch spoken in numerous countries containing Canada and the U.S.
Oversight is an eighth-grade student splendid lives in Toronto.