Dear Editor:

When you spend every day of the week researching interesting stories and topics, it is often a surprise to this writer what inspiration pops up for my letter. My learning curiosity began when I was two years old and never turned off. My interest in mentoring others in schools, church and business was always in sharing.

I often wait until Sunday to finish my letter, hoping for compassion, wisdom and joy. Last week I stumbled onto a remarkable event -- The WE Movement. It reminded me of the 1979 song “We are family.” The WE Movement is much bigger than a song and opened my eyes as to what a 12-year-old can do to change the world into a better place.12-year-old Canadian, Craig Kielburger, who read a news article about the murder of a Pakistani boy because he spoke out against child labor was inspired. Since the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 banned child labor it was an eye awakening that a 12-year-old would be inspired to begin “Free the Children” in 1995.

This young person involved many of his 12-year-old school friends who all became activists collecting 3,000 signatures to inspire India to release imprisoned Kailash Sahvarthi - a child labor activist. At 13, Craig convinced Prime Minister Jean Chretien to publicly stand against child slavery. There was no limit to the spirit and enthusiasm of this child.

Brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger continue to empower young people to remove barriers that prevent them from being active local and global citizens. In 2016 the group was renamed the WE Charity. For Craig, the “ME” quickly moved to ME and YOU as more and more participants joined his efforts to free children. It was easy to immediately see that ME and YOU become “WE” working together.The WE movement was a global inspiration with its first action. Every year a “WE day” is celebrated and expanded into cities of 20 countries.

It was once said “And a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb