“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
It is our belief that the delegates and staff of NAIMUN XLVIII are just the group of citizens to affect this lasting, positive change through NAIMUN Philanthropy.
Recognizing the importance of incorporating philanthropy into our initiatives to educate students on important international issues, NAIMUN has partnered with several non-profits in recent years. Through the generous support of delegates, moderators, and staffers, NAIMUN Philanthropy has raised over $33,500 for international charities since its inception at NAIMUN XLV.
NAIMUN XLVIII is very excited to partner with Free the Children, whose emphasis on youth empowerment and holistic approach to sustainable development closely aligns with NAIMUN’s ideals. With your help, we look forward to supporting Free the Children’s efforts to create a more just and gentle world.
Scott Stirrett
s.stirrett(at)modelun.org
Director of Philanthropy
Free the Children Background
To understand much of Free the Children’s work today, it is important to know the story of the organization’s founding. Free The Children was founded in 1995 by then 12-year-old Craig Kielburger, after seeing the headline “ Battled Child Labour, Boy, 12, Murdered.” Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani boy, had escaped child labor at age nine to become a leader in the movement against bonded labor and child slavery. He was eventually shot and killed for speaking out. Struck by this story, Craig and eleven of his friends founded Free the Children to continue Iqbal’s fight. The sheer youth of Kielburger at the time of Free The Children’s founding illustrates the potential that children and young adults have in bringing about positive change.
Today, with over one million youth contributing to its innovative education and development programs in nearly 50 countries, Free The Children is “the world’s largest network of children helping children through education.” The primary goals of Free The Children are to “free children from poverty and exploitation and free young people from the notion that they are powerless to affect positive change in the world.” To learn more about Free the Children, please watch the short yet powerful video included at the bottom of this page.
Free the Children at NAIMUN
All funds raised at NAIMUN XLVIII will go to support Free The Children’s “Adopt a Village” program. Recognizing the need to approach community development holistically, this program focuses on four main pillars: clean water and sanitation, healthcare, education, and alternative income projects. Based on the idea that “no problem and no solution stands alone,” this comprehensive model has helped break the cycle of poverty in villages around the world.
We look forward to your enthusiasm and support in fundraising for the conference charity, and challenge all delegates to break the record of $18,500 that was raised for the conference charity at NAIMUN XLVII. At NAIMUN XLVIII, numerous opportunities will exist for delegates, moderators, and staffers alike to support Free The Children. Initiatives ranging from candy gram and raffle ticket sales to exciting and engaging in-committee fundraising will help us meet our $25,000 goal. If you would like more information about NAIMUN Philanthropy or how your delegation can fundraise for Free the Children even before arriving to NAIMUN, please email Director of Philanthropy Scott Stirrett at s.stirrett(at)modelun.org.
Social Justice at NAIMUN
In addition to our efforts to positively impact the global community through the Philanthropy program, NAIMUN strives to affect change in the lives of delegates by engaging them in social justice. NAIMUN XLVIII will see the continuation of the annual Friday morning community service project, as well as the inauguration of a new program: the Social Justice Symposium. At this event, delegates will have the opportunity to learn more about social justice projects designed and implemented by their peers, as well as the chance to meet with representatives from leading NGOs. We hope that this event can be both inspiring and educational for NAIMUN delegates!
Free the Children Video
