12-year-old activist issues barefoot challenge Special

A 12-year-old Canadian activist, Bilaal Rajan is asking people to join him for National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) by walking barefoot.

Spearheading the unique initiative, Bilaal, a grade 8 student in Aurora, Ontario, is sure that once people walk barefoot for at least some time, they will realize how hard it is for children from underdeveloped countries to get about their lives. In an interview by email, he wrote, "I am going to go barefoot for the entire volunteer week and am urging others to join me, be it for half an hour or the full day. Once they are barefoot, I would like them to reflect on what causes are they passionate about and start volunteering.” His primary motivation is to raise consciousness about poverty and how volunteerism can make a difference. “With regard to the barefoot challenge- it is about children around the world who don’t have what we have here and take for granted. It will help to better understand the struggles faced daily by under privileged children. Many of them have to work miles to school, fetch water and work on their farms, while wondering where their next meal will come from.” The theme for National Volunteer Week is ‘Celebrating people in action’ and the plan is to honour people who spend time to take action and solve problems in their community. Activism is not new to Bilaal. He has been a social activist since the age of four. He has helped raise millions for children’s causes and plans to continue with his efforts. He is also an author, a motivational speaker and children’s ambassador for UNICEF Canada. He has closely observed the effects of being barefoot before. “I was in Tanzania in 2007, Malawi in 2005 and also spent a lot of time in Mexico with local children in rural areas. I walk the World Partnership Walk each and every year and collect funds for them. It is 5 kms long and I find it difficult to walk so long with shoes. I felt how hard it must be for these kids to go barefoot, without shoes for so long on hot gravel and sand.” How does the youngster find time for all his projects? “I am very busy. Sometimes I do my school work on the road, in the plane and work ahead as well. My school is very supportive of my initiatives and so I am able to submit projects either very early or later. All the homework is online so I am able to access it. There are some sacrifices that come with this - my social life at times is decreased. For example, I was supposed to go to Ontario Science centre with two of my friends on Easter Monday and had to cancel because I had a lot of work to do before the launch of this campaign. “I really want everyone to find their cause, be passionate about it and above all else, take action,” he said. His plan is to inspire a million people in the next three years towards social change. The dynamic activist has no doubt this is going to happen.