Craig Kielburger, Ontario, Canada
2002 Founder’s Award Recipient

Craig first became a spokesperson for children's rights when he was 12 years old. Searching for the comics in the local paper, a front-page article caught his attention. He read about a young boy from Pakistan who was sold into bondage as a carpet weaver, escaped and was murdered for speaking out against child labor. Craig gathered a group of friends and founded the organization (Kids Can) Free the Children.

Seven years later, Craig, now 19 years of age, has traveled to more than 40 countries visiting street and working children and speaking out in defense of children's rights. Since founding in 1995, KCFTC has grown into the largest youth empowerment organization in the world, with over 100,000 youth involved in more than 35 countries.

He has advocated on behalf of children in meetings with political and religious leaders including Prime Ministers and Presidents, CEOs of major corporations, Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama, Queen Elizabeth II and the late Mother Teresa. Craig’s work has been featured on major television programs in North and South America and Europe, including CNN, the Oprah Winfrey Show and 60 Minutes.  http://www.freethechildren.org

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For more information, contact:
David W. Lippy
President and CEO
World of Children, Inc.
614-939-1533
dlippy@worldofchildren.org