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Other Topic - Not IF Related
Posted by
Luckypenny
,
15 May 2010
·
1130 views
Today I was thinking about a speech that was written by my Big Sister's match's younger sister. My match is 15 and her younger sister is 11. Their mom is a single mom, and she manages to provide an amazing and inspired life for her family on not alot of resources, and has instilled really great values in her kids. She goes above and beyond to provide her children with opportunities and experiences despite limited resources. My match is an amazing young lady and was matched with a mentor to recognize all she does. She has 3 younger siblings, two with health issues, and her mom also has health problems. Her younger sister wrote a really amazing speech for the Public Speaking portion of her Grade 5 school curriculum and my match shared it with me. I've shared it with other friends and family members, and today when I was thinking of it I thought I would post it here, maybe some of you would enjoy it too. It't not at all related to IF, but I really enjoyed it and maybe someone here will too.
"Battled Child Labour, Boy, 12, Murdered." No one knew that this short, but powerful headline would catch the eye of 12-year-old Craig Kielburger, one April morning in 1995 as he flipped through the paper looking for comics. More so, no one knew that the article that followed would mark the beginning of change, not only in South Asia but across the nation.
The horrendous story was of a boy Craig’s age named Iqbal Masih who was born in South Asia and sold into slavery at the age of four. In his short life, he had spent six years chained to a carpet-weaving loom, working 12-14 hours a day. When he escaped, he captured the world's attention by speaking out for children's rights.
Eventually, Iqbal's wide media coverage caught the attention of those who wished to silence him. At 12 he was murdered for defending the rights of children. What Craig learned from Iqbal's story was that the bravest of voices can live in the tiniest of bodies.
Honourable judges, teachers and fellow students the topic I have chosen to speak about isn’t just Craig Kieburger, child slave labour or other young leaders with powerful voices. My speech is also about your voice. That’s right, YOURS! Every single one of us has one and every one of us has an issue that is close to our heart.
At the age of 12 when Craig Kielburger read the story of Iqbal, he could have simply shaken his head. He could have thought about the terrible tragedy for a moment, like many of us do, and then dismissed it, ignoring the reality that Iqbal’s plea would never again be heard. But Craig is extraordinary and he didn’t let go of what he read. He decided that his voice was powerful enough for change too. He clipped the article from the paper and brought it to school to share with his grade 7 classmates. He recruited 11 classmates and The Free the Children Organization was formed.
Craig and his schoolmates signed petitions and faxed world leaders. Free The Children was funded completely by garage sales, pop sales, bake sales and car washes run by children who wanted their voices for change to be heard. No one on the Board of Directors of the organization was even older than 18.
I guess I don’t need to tell you that both Iqbal and Craig are on my long personal list of heroes. They totally inspire me. But when I decided I wanted to be a humanitarian I was far too young to know the tales of these 2 boys.
I was inspired by a short tale called The Starfish Story. I’d like to share it with you.
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said… “I made a difference for that one.”
Soon after hearing that story for the first time, my second grade teacher told our class about an organization called Sleeping Children Around The World. The organization raises funds to purchase bedkits for children in underprivileged countries. Things included in the bedkits are a mattress, blanket, pillow, clothing, shoes and school supplies. I was only 7 and knew I could never buy beds for every child out there, who was desperate for a blanket and good night sleep. But, just maybe I could at least help a few. It’s been 3 years now and I’ve been working hard doing jobs in my community and saving my allowance and birthday money. So far I have given 115 children on the other side of the world, a safe place to sleep at night. Separate from The Sleeping Children Around the World Organization, I have also travelled to third world countries and visited schools and orphanages. I brought the children school supplies, books, clothing, shoes, toys, care packages and treats. I have also reached out to others much closer to home in a far less obvious manner with clothing, food, acceptance and friendship.
Mother Teresa said “It’s not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.” I think love is powerful and key to everything in life. With it, we can reach far higher than we can with the power of anger and hatred. Love comes in many forms, some as simple as smiling to acknowledge someone who feels forgotten.
At school we learn about Character traits such as caring, cooperation, courage, empathy, integrity, honesty, inclusiveness, respect, responsibility and optimism. We are recognized for possessing these traits. Have you ever stopped to question why? It isn’t just a school thing; these are some of the most valuable life skills we will ever learn.
Reach out to each other and inspire one another. If someone is bullying someone else, stand up and speak out. Don’t treat the bully with hatred but offer your friendship and a new perspective, include them in your activity. After all it’s those that have been bullied that become the bullies, right? So, teach them a new way.
If someone in your class doesn’t have a lunch, reach into your own and share something from yours. There’s plenty to go around and if everyone did this, less people would have to struggle. There would also be less wastage out there if we shared more freely. Think about it.
If someone is having a tough day, remind them that you care and are there to be a friend. You never know when you’ll be on the other side looking for a little support, right? So don’t turn your back or pretend you don’t notice, reach out and be the change.
If someone is being recognized for doing all of those things, sit quietly in the assembly and clap appropriately for them because you would want the same respect during your proud moment too.
It’s really quite simple isn’t it? And can be summed up with the most powerful 4 letter word on earth, one that speaks directly to every human spirit and in every language too. L-O-V-E. Yeppers, LOVE!!! That’s it! That’s the cure!
Love is so natural, we have mastered it earlier than we even learn to sit up or crawl. With love, we can change the world. So remember, you are never too young OR too old to make a difference.
That’s right, YOU can make a difference, and YOU can, and YOU can and YOU can too. I know little by little I’m making a difference.
I would like to leave you with one last question. It’s a quote from another great young leader by the name of Martin Luther King Jr.. He said “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are YOU doing for others?”
Thank you.
"Battled Child Labour, Boy, 12, Murdered." No one knew that this short, but powerful headline would catch the eye of 12-year-old Craig Kielburger, one April morning in 1995 as he flipped through the paper looking for comics. More so, no one knew that the article that followed would mark the beginning of change, not only in South Asia but across the nation.
The horrendous story was of a boy Craig’s age named Iqbal Masih who was born in South Asia and sold into slavery at the age of four. In his short life, he had spent six years chained to a carpet-weaving loom, working 12-14 hours a day. When he escaped, he captured the world's attention by speaking out for children's rights.
Eventually, Iqbal's wide media coverage caught the attention of those who wished to silence him. At 12 he was murdered for defending the rights of children. What Craig learned from Iqbal's story was that the bravest of voices can live in the tiniest of bodies.
Honourable judges, teachers and fellow students the topic I have chosen to speak about isn’t just Craig Kieburger, child slave labour or other young leaders with powerful voices. My speech is also about your voice. That’s right, YOURS! Every single one of us has one and every one of us has an issue that is close to our heart.
At the age of 12 when Craig Kielburger read the story of Iqbal, he could have simply shaken his head. He could have thought about the terrible tragedy for a moment, like many of us do, and then dismissed it, ignoring the reality that Iqbal’s plea would never again be heard. But Craig is extraordinary and he didn’t let go of what he read. He decided that his voice was powerful enough for change too. He clipped the article from the paper and brought it to school to share with his grade 7 classmates. He recruited 11 classmates and The Free the Children Organization was formed.
Craig and his schoolmates signed petitions and faxed world leaders. Free The Children was funded completely by garage sales, pop sales, bake sales and car washes run by children who wanted their voices for change to be heard. No one on the Board of Directors of the organization was even older than 18.
I guess I don’t need to tell you that both Iqbal and Craig are on my long personal list of heroes. They totally inspire me. But when I decided I wanted to be a humanitarian I was far too young to know the tales of these 2 boys.
I was inspired by a short tale called The Starfish Story. I’d like to share it with you.
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said… “I made a difference for that one.”
Soon after hearing that story for the first time, my second grade teacher told our class about an organization called Sleeping Children Around The World. The organization raises funds to purchase bedkits for children in underprivileged countries. Things included in the bedkits are a mattress, blanket, pillow, clothing, shoes and school supplies. I was only 7 and knew I could never buy beds for every child out there, who was desperate for a blanket and good night sleep. But, just maybe I could at least help a few. It’s been 3 years now and I’ve been working hard doing jobs in my community and saving my allowance and birthday money. So far I have given 115 children on the other side of the world, a safe place to sleep at night. Separate from The Sleeping Children Around the World Organization, I have also travelled to third world countries and visited schools and orphanages. I brought the children school supplies, books, clothing, shoes, toys, care packages and treats. I have also reached out to others much closer to home in a far less obvious manner with clothing, food, acceptance and friendship.
Mother Teresa said “It’s not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.” I think love is powerful and key to everything in life. With it, we can reach far higher than we can with the power of anger and hatred. Love comes in many forms, some as simple as smiling to acknowledge someone who feels forgotten.
At school we learn about Character traits such as caring, cooperation, courage, empathy, integrity, honesty, inclusiveness, respect, responsibility and optimism. We are recognized for possessing these traits. Have you ever stopped to question why? It isn’t just a school thing; these are some of the most valuable life skills we will ever learn.
Reach out to each other and inspire one another. If someone is bullying someone else, stand up and speak out. Don’t treat the bully with hatred but offer your friendship and a new perspective, include them in your activity. After all it’s those that have been bullied that become the bullies, right? So, teach them a new way.
If someone in your class doesn’t have a lunch, reach into your own and share something from yours. There’s plenty to go around and if everyone did this, less people would have to struggle. There would also be less wastage out there if we shared more freely. Think about it.
If someone is having a tough day, remind them that you care and are there to be a friend. You never know when you’ll be on the other side looking for a little support, right? So don’t turn your back or pretend you don’t notice, reach out and be the change.
If someone is being recognized for doing all of those things, sit quietly in the assembly and clap appropriately for them because you would want the same respect during your proud moment too.
It’s really quite simple isn’t it? And can be summed up with the most powerful 4 letter word on earth, one that speaks directly to every human spirit and in every language too. L-O-V-E. Yeppers, LOVE!!! That’s it! That’s the cure!
Love is so natural, we have mastered it earlier than we even learn to sit up or crawl. With love, we can change the world. So remember, you are never too young OR too old to make a difference.
That’s right, YOU can make a difference, and YOU can, and YOU can and YOU can too. I know little by little I’m making a difference.
I would like to leave you with one last question. It’s a quote from another great young leader by the name of Martin Luther King Jr.. He said “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are YOU doing for others?”
Thank you.
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