Social enterprises are crucial in today’s society, when there are so many social causes that need our attention. Free the Children is one such enterprise that aims to make a positive difference in the lives of children living in poverty. This organization is something I have personally been involved with during my high school years, as I worked with my peers to raise money for this cause.

So what makes Free the Children a social enterprise? For one thing, it was started by a boy who became a social entrepreneur. Craig Kielburger was just 12 years old when he became aware of the cruelty of child labour that is practiced in South Asia. So he decided to make a change, and was able to gather support from his classmates. Craig even travelled to India to see firsthand the conditions that children in poverty are living in. Craig’s vision to help these kids caught on quickly, and soon Free the Children was born. Today, this organization has over 1 million youth involved in “innovate education and development programs in 45 countries.” Their social mission is to “free children from poverty and exploitation,” making Free the Children a social enterprise.

Source: Free the Children

Photo: Miss Teen Eastern Ontario