Free the Children's Craig Kielburger to Speak in Nanaimo

Craig Kielburger, an accomplished child rights advocate and New York Times best-selling author, is a speaker with four Nobel Peace Prize nominations and a powerful message for youth and adults on Vancouver Island.

When Craig was 12, he turned his shock at the murder of a child labourer-turned-child rights activist into an international campaign to free children from poverty, exploitation and powerlessness. The organization, Free The Children, began as a small group of classmates and quickly evolved into an international phenomenon.

Under Craig’s leadership, Free The Children has now changed the lives of more than one million young people around the world. The organization has built more than 500 schools in Asia, Africa and Latin America, providing daily education to more than 50,000 children.

“Craig Kielburger empowers young people through leadership education to provide them with the inspiration and tools to affect positive social change,” states Dennis Silvestrone, Dean of Adult and Continuing Education at Malaspina University-College. “We are very privileged to welcome Craig here to speak to the Nanaimo Community.”

Now 25, Craig has travelled to more than 50 countries, visiting underprivileged children and speaking out in defence of children’s rights. A sought-after speaker, he has shared the podium a number of times with former U.S. president Bill Clinton, as well as with such world renowned leaders as Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama.  He has facilitated successful partnerships with leading school boards and Oprah’s Angel Network.

Craig is truly a Hidden Hero on a global community level with motivation and dedication to make a difference at every level,” states Bill Robinson of the Hidden Heroes Education Society. “I am confident that this phenomenal young man will inspire our youth and adults to take action and make a difference where they can.

Craig Kielburger’s Changing The World is a co-presentation of The Centre for Continuing Studies at Malaspina University-College, The Port Theatre, Our Hidden Heroes and the Investors Group. It takes place at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo on February 22 at 7:30 pm. Tickets for youth and EyeGO are only $5, university students are $17, adults are $28, and Port Theatre members & Malaspina Staff are $24. For more information and tickets, call the Port Theatre at 754-8550 or purchase online at porttheatre.com.

For interviews, press photos and more information, please contact:

Melanie Alderson, Publicist
The Port Theatre
T: 250.754.4555 ext 303
E: malderson@porttheatre.com

or

Pam Botteril
Centre for Continuing Education
Malaspina University-College
T: 250.740.6163
E: Botteril@viu.ca