Craig Kielburger

“Time flies when you're changing the world.”

“My grandfather came to Canada from Romania just before the Second World War, already in debt after buying his boat ticket on borrowed dime.”

“Most organizations see young people as problems to be solved. We see young people as problem-solvers.”

“Any child who dreams to do good in the world has Mandela as his hero. I own a dog-eared copy of 'Long Walk to Freedom' and visited Robben Island, where he was imprisoned, to stand in a cell only as wide as an arm's span.”

“We've found that service learning builds life skills, leadership and a sense of global citizenship that makes helping a lifelong habit.”

“There may never be another Madiba. But instead of waiting for the next Nelson Mandela to emerge, those whom he universally inspired are now looking to themselves and each other to build their own dream together.”

“Despite the value to Canada, our country lags in competitiveness in the global social economy.”

“Some say there is no uniquely Canadian identity, that our multicultural fabric is too varied to establish a common thread. I disagree. My grandfather came to a country that celebrates diversity, embraces strife with compassion and respects selfless idealism.”

“People in the business world lament economic resources wasted on unsustainable development projects and what they see as activists' naive failure to grasp the importance of building strong economies.”

“Sometimes it takes a child to raise a village - or to take down an injustice.”

“We would love to see Canadian federal and provincial governments establish a new business entity class like the CIC or L3C for social enterprises. Our governments should also offer tax incentives to entice more entrepreneurs into the social economy, and encourage foundations and impact investors to put their capital into social enterprises.”

“I met children who want to be social workers, lawyers, doctors, community activists and soldiers so they can help their people rise above still difficult economic circumstances.”

“Distance and difference become irrelevant as our technology connects youth from Vancouver, Toronto, Iqaluit, Attawapiskat, Delhi, Nairobi - anywhere - to learn from and about each other.”

“We've set up groups in schools across North America. They apply and receive a curriculum about different issues facing the world - from environment to health to sustainability. Then, the students take actions from fundraisers to awareness raisers, and some of them even go overseas and volunteer.”

“When you give a child the opportunity to learn, they always give back.”

“The nature of education fundamentally has not changed in a century - and I say this as someone whose parents are both teachers.”

“Many say that a man comes along with the moral courage of Nelson Mandela once in a lifetime. He was an extraordinary man who paid a great sacrifice for his beliefs, then led a nation from the prospect of civil war to reconciliation.”

“I started calling anti-child labor organizations, asking how I could help. They told me a kid couldn't make any difference, so I decided to start a movement for young people to fight child labor, and to prove them wrong.”

“My grandfather didn't come to Canada for his own sake. He didn't leave behind his family to cross the Atlantic and be knocked to the canvas. He came here so that his son, my father, would have a better life.”

“While governments are not off the hook, the charity world needs to innovate and find new ways to attract outside investment to boost our social productivity.”