Bilaal Rajan
Encyclopedia
Bilaal Rajan is a fundraiser, motivational speaker, author, United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) Canada’s child ambassador, and founder of the Making Change Now organization.
Rajan began fundraising when he was four years old, selling clementines door-to-door in his neighborhood to raise C$350 in funds for the victims of the earthquakes in the Gujarat province of India
in 2001. He later sold handmade plastic plates to raise $1,200 for HIV/Aids orphans, sold cookie boxes to raise over $6,000 for the affected people and children of Hurricane-devastated Haiti
, raised $50,000 for the victims of the tsunami
in south-east Asia
, and more than $50,000 for the World Partnership Walk.
In 2004, Rajan launched the Canada Kids Earthquake Challenge for the Canadian National Committee, raising the total funds for tsunami relief to around $1.8 million. To date, he has raised over $5 million for various causes, and in March 2005 he was chosen as an official ambassador for UNICEF.
Rajan visited Tanzania
in July 2007 to bring awareness and education of HIV/AIDS to their communities. As a participant of Governor General Michaëlle Jean
's Order of Canada Mentorship Program, he visited Ecuador
in August 2008 to help build a primary school. Two months later, Rajan published Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever, which focuses on how young people can work together in their local communities to increase awareness about global issues and raise funds for those in need.
In April 2009, Rajan established the Barefoot Challenge, an annual event where he lives life without shoes to raise awareness about child poverty in the developing world. Thousands of young people from more than 25 countries around the world kicked off their shoes to better understand the struggles faced by underprivileged children everywhere. The 2011 Barefoot Challenge is taking place on June 1 in conjunction with International Children's Day.
In July 2009, Rajan met personally with Nelson Mandela
and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa
to discuss several of his upcoming youth initiatives. He also spoke to students at several schools in Cape Town. Film makers produced a documentary about his journey called My Name is Bilaal.
Rajan has addressed organizations such as URISA Canada, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance USA, Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Haitian and Indonesian communities of Toronto, Canada, as well as audiences throughout the United States and south-east Asia and Australia. He is a recipient of the 2008 Top 20 Under 20 Award, the 2009 Huggable Hero Award, the 2009 Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship, and the 2010 Kids to Kids National Service Award.
He is currently creating a youth volunteer award program with every middle school in Canada and partnering with Ben Mulroney
, CTV
's Canadian Idol
and eTalk host, for the UNICEF Trick-or-Treat Campaign. Rajan currently attends Lakefield College School near Peterborough, Ontario.
United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
(UNICEF) Canada’s child ambassador, and founder of the Making Change Now organization.
Rajan began fundraising when he was four years old, selling clementines door-to-door in his neighborhood to raise C$350 in funds for the victims of the earthquakes in the Gujarat province of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 2001. He later sold handmade plastic plates to raise $1,200 for HIV/Aids orphans, sold cookie boxes to raise over $6,000 for the affected people and children of Hurricane-devastated Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, raised $50,000 for the victims of the tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
in south-east Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and more than $50,000 for the World Partnership Walk.
In 2004, Rajan launched the Canada Kids Earthquake Challenge for the Canadian National Committee, raising the total funds for tsunami relief to around $1.8 million. To date, he has raised over $5 million for various causes, and in March 2005 he was chosen as an official ambassador for UNICEF.
Rajan visited Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
in July 2007 to bring awareness and education of HIV/AIDS to their communities. As a participant of Governor General Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation, from 2005 to 2010....
's Order of Canada Mentorship Program, he visited Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
in August 2008 to help build a primary school. Two months later, Rajan published Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever, which focuses on how young people can work together in their local communities to increase awareness about global issues and raise funds for those in need.
In April 2009, Rajan established the Barefoot Challenge, an annual event where he lives life without shoes to raise awareness about child poverty in the developing world. Thousands of young people from more than 25 countries around the world kicked off their shoes to better understand the struggles faced by underprivileged children everywhere. The 2011 Barefoot Challenge is taking place on June 1 in conjunction with International Children's Day.
In July 2009, Rajan met personally with Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to discuss several of his upcoming youth initiatives. He also spoke to students at several schools in Cape Town. Film makers produced a documentary about his journey called My Name is Bilaal.
Rajan has addressed organizations such as URISA Canada, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance USA, Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Haitian and Indonesian communities of Toronto, Canada, as well as audiences throughout the United States and south-east Asia and Australia. He is a recipient of the 2008 Top 20 Under 20 Award, the 2009 Huggable Hero Award, the 2009 Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship, and the 2010 Kids to Kids National Service Award.
He is currently creating a youth volunteer award program with every middle school in Canada and partnering with Ben Mulroney
Ben Mulroney
Benedict Martin Paul "Ben" Mulroney is a Canadian television host, and is the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.-Early life:...
, CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
's Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
and eTalk host, for the UNICEF Trick-or-Treat Campaign. Rajan currently attends Lakefield College School near Peterborough, Ontario.