A Break...

Hey everybody,

I'm in Washington D.C. for a competition this week, so I will be unable to write a full blog post. Sorry for the inconvenience!

See ya next week!

Yes We Can...

Children can do amazing things.

The world's newest and youngest liberation movement will make its presence felt at a summit in Washington this week. The Common Forum for Kalmal Hari Freedom, the Nilphamari Child Marriage Free Zone, the Ugandan Child Protection Club, the Upper Manya Krobo Rights of the Child Club and Indonesia's Grobogan Child Empowerment Group may not yet be household names outside their own countries, but schoolgirls demanding an end to child labor, child marriage, and child trafficking - and inspired by the sacrifice of Malala Yousafzai - are borrowing the tactics of the US civil rights movement. Once cowed and silent, these young civil rights leaders have become defiant and assertive, and they are linking up across the world to demand justice for the 32 million girls and 29 million boys still denied places at school.

1 million out-of-school Pakistani children demanding their right to education have come together to sign a petition. Once a humble list of dusty scribbles on parchment, it is now due to be presented to Ban Ki-Moon next week. Malala Yousafzai will make her first public speech since her life-threatening injury, and the "Global March For Child Labor" is laying out its plans to eliminate child slavery in 2015 - the week after that. Social justice is not merely a concept, but a plan in action.

But, every year 10 million girls marry between the ages of 11 and 13. Fifteen million children are condemned to working full time in mines and sweatshops, on farms and as domestic labor. No scientific discovery or technological breakthrough is needed to build the 4 million classrooms and employ the 2 million teachers necessary to achieve universal education - just cash. But global education spending - only $3 billion a year at its peak - has been frozen for three years and is being cut. The Millenium Development Goals are slowly unraveling, and with less than 1000 days to go before it conclusion, it seems less of a reality than ever. More needs to be done, and fast.

Public anger is the greatest weapon of all. When people come together, monumental things can happen. The Civil Rights Movement was merely an angry mob at first. Every revolution in history is sparked by a group of  a few people who want change and are willing to do something about it. So today, I say to you: YES, WE CAN.

A few quarters in your pocket could mean the difference between work and school for a child. A trip to Africa or India could change the lives of several children, for the better. Let's do our part. Because if we can unite, anything is possible.

We Are Silent

On April 18th, tens of thousands of young activists will go silent to honor all those around the world who are without a voice. I'd like to encourage you to do it too.

Free the Children's 'We Are Silent' campaign is approaching rapidly, and it's a great chance for those of us who want to make a difference, but don't quite know how to go about it. The challenge is to go silent for 24 hours, supporting those who are voiceless due to poverty and exploitation.

For each hour, you can pledge a dollar. It really does make a difference. $50 can provide classroom supplies for a school, and $100 gives a family clean water. With more, we can build a community or well or even a school itself. There are so many ways we can make a difference through the 'We Are Silent; Campaign. Set yourself a goal of going silent for an hour, or two. Because anything helps.

Check out this video about the 'We Are Silent' Campaign:

Learn more at http://www.freethechildren.com/get-involved/campaigns/we-are-silent/

Do Something...

This week is a time for all of us to take a sigh of relief, take our minds of academics, and have fun. It's also a time for me to take a break from my blog, but not without a few words.

We might have a break, but the millions of child laborers around the world don't suddenly get the week off. It's now, when we sit around with nothing to do, that we can think about them, and do what we can. Donate a few dollars. Maybe get involved in Free the Children's campaigns. Educate yourself a little more on this topic. That's where it all starts.

I'd like for you all to check out this website, DoSomething.org. It's a great way for us, the youth, to get involved in causes ranging from bullying to child abuse and exploitation. This was introduced to me by a friend who is part of our FTC club in school.

I'll see you next week, where I'll have a little more information about a specific campaign of Free the Children's, "We Are Silent." Stay tuned!