Free The Children

Free The Children ( " Free the Children " ) is an international network of children for children based in Toronto, Canada.

Foundation

The organization was founded in 1995 by the then 12 - year-old Canadian Craig Kielburger. This had learned from Pakistani boy Iqbal Masih of the commitment that had been sold to a carpet factory at the age of 4 years, was able to escape from debt bondage, afterwards began for the liberation of other enslaved children and was eventually murdered at age 12.

The fate Iqbal inspired Kielburger to also do something about the exploitation of children and to establish for this purpose Free The Children. At the beginning he led the organization along with 11 school friends. The whole organization with all national sections is led by children and young people worldwide Free The Children has about one million supporters.

Projects

Today, the organization is active in more than 45 countries. The focus of the work of the organization is on access to education; by its own account, the organization has built more than 400 schools in which 35,000 children an education is possible. In the health sector, the organization health centers built for 500,000 people in 40 countries. 125,000 people gained access to clean drinking water. Moreover, the organization helps poor families with the creation of small sources of income so that the family is no longer dependent on an additional income of children and the children can go to school instead of to work. Of these, so far 20,000 people have benefited.

Awards

In 1997, the organization of the State of the World Freedom Award. In 1998, the organization with the Roosevelt Freedom Medal was awarded. 2002, 2003 and 2004, the organization was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.