We can all use our own individual talents to help make the world a better place, according to Canadian human rights activist and WE co-founder Craig Kielburger.
Kielburger, 36, made that point as he spoke to hundreds of people packed into the Alumni Centre during the Rotary Club's district convention on May 4.
He said the mission of service clubs like the Rotary Club to make the world a better place fits perfectly with that activism.
When Craig was only 12, growing up in Thornhill, Ont., he saw a newspaper story about a Pakistani boy who was forced into child labour and eventually murdered.
As a result, Craig and his brother Marc began fighting internationally against child labour. They created the human rights and development movement initially called Free The Children, now known as WE and We to Me.
During his speech in Olds, Kielburger cited examples of self sacrifice, leadership, courage and determination exhibited by world famous figures like Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu of South Africa; the Dali Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet; and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai who was attacked by the Taliban for standing up for women's education.
Another was Santosh, a former middle school student leader who taught people about peace and reconciliation when he shook hands with a rebel commander who had cut Santosh's right hand off for standing up against him.
But Kielburger also profiled lesser known role models like his grandmother. Despite having only a Grade 8 education she rose from literally working her fingers until they bled while cleaning houses to obtaining a secretarial job. Via great sacrifices, she raised her children to succeed.
Kielburger urged the crowd to undertake a "minga," an Ecuadorian word that calls on people to drop what they're doing and work immediately to get something done quickly.
"I think the world needs more coming together for the collective good. That’s why Rotary is such a powerful idea, because that’s what it’s built to be," Kielburger said during an interview with the Albertan.
"But even if you’re not part of Rotary, it can be through another service club, it could be through your religious group, through your family, through a workplace.
"So many of these challenges in the world are solveable if ordinary individuals choose to come together to create that impact," he added.
Kielburger said all the examples cited in his approximately 45-minute speech show "that we each bring something unique to the table – sometimes absolute courage, sometimes determination, sometimes humility. We all bring different gifts and talents."
At the end of his speech, Kielburger received a standing ovation.
