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13 year-old UNICEF
Ambassador Bilaal Rajan challenges world youth to help Haiti
Toronto, Canada –
Bilaal Rajan, the grade nine student at Lakefield College School,
UNICEF Canada Ambassador, youth activist, best-selling author and
fundraiser, has issued a challenge to students all over the world to
raise a minimum of $100 for the relief efforts in Haiti.
“Hundreds of thousands have died, and millions are without shelter,
food, running water or medical attention. Young people have to get
involved and help,” says Rajan, the fundraising wunderkind who has
raised millions of dollars for programs that help children in need
all over the world. “I think the potential students have for
raising millions of dollars throughout the globe is overwhelming.”
Barely a teenager, the Toronto-based children’s activist is already
a force to be reckoned with. An accomplished writer, Rajan’s book,
Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever (160 pages, Orca
Book Publishers), shows people how they can take charge and make a
difference in their communities, no matter what their age.
Rajan is adding an extra incentive for students to raise money. He
will shave his head in honour of the school or student in Canada
that raises the greatest amount of funds. “I’m looking forward to
see what kinds of fundraising ideas young people come up with and
how much money they can raise. Am I looking forward to going bald?
Not so much. I hope the students are gentle,” he laughs. In
addition, Lakefield College School Headmaster David Thompson has
agreed to shave his head as well if his students raise $35,000.
At 4, Rajan began his fundraising success by selling clementine
oranges door-to-door raising money for victims of the 2001
earthquake in Gujarat, India. At 7, he founded Making Change Now,
an organization dedicated to heightening awareness of youth issues
and raising funds for children in the developing world. In March
2005, he was chosen as an official Child Representative and
Ambassador for UNICEF Canada.
In 2004, Rajan launched his first UNICEF fundraising challenge, at
the age of eight, called the UNICEF Canada Kids Earthquake
Challenge, through which Canadian children raised more than $1.8
million to help those who were impacted by the earthquake and
tsunami of south Asia. Canada’s youth contributed again in May 2008
to those affected by the Myanmar cyclone through Rajan’s Me and You
for the Children of Myanmar UNICEF fundraising campaign.
All the proceeds raised by Rajan’s Help Haiti Challenge will go to
UNICEF and the organization’s relief efforts in Haiti. “The
challenges of the Haitian people won’t go away overnight,” he says.
“But I know that students throughout the world will step up to the
plate and make every effort to help those who are suffering in the
country.”
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