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REAL LIFE 'SWAN CHILDREN'* ARE TRANSFORMING THE WORLD! Click on a candle on the map below, and see how some youth are doing it! Click here if you have a story to share. Click here if you just want to say, 'I care!' |
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LOCATIONS OF REAL LIFE 'SWAN CHILDREN' |
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IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE ON THIS MAP, PLEASE SHARE! |
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I pledge to: Walk Lightly across Mother Earth and . . .
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I CARE!
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. . . to help at least one person along the way.
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BOY SCOUT HERO
Visit http://www.youthactioninternational.org/yai/ and http://www.kimmieweeks.com/index.php to see how you too can help transform your world.
Ten years later, Computers for Communities has distributed over 1,000 refurbished computers, and expanded to include other IT community projects. If you would like to start your own CFC, visit http://computers4communities.org/Html/Beta/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0
In 1987, when Iqbal was just five years old, he was sent to work for a carpet manufacturer to pay off a debt his impoverished family owed. For years he toiled from morn 'til night. Just when it seemed Iqbal would have to spend the rest of his life in the factory, a law was passed in Pakistan banning bonded labor and canceling all such debts. At age 10, Iqbal fought for and gained his release from the carpet manufacturer, then went on to help other young children free themselves from unscrupulous merchants who would ignore the law. Two years later, Iqbal was shot to death. Since then, other youth the world over have taken up the fight for children's rights because, in their words, 'a bullet cannot kill a dream'. Learn more about this incredible young activist at www.wcprc.com/prizelaurates/page.html?pid=344
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND
FROM THE MOMENT YOUNG WILLIAM KAMKWAMBA READ THE BOOK, 'Using Energy', he dreamed of building machines to bring electricity and water to his drought-plagued village in Malawi. The villagers teased him, called him crazy, but William refused to give up this dream. He'd already had to put on hold his dream of studying science, when famine hit in 2002, decimating his family's farm and forcing him to drop out of school to forage for food. Armed with amazing determination and a motley collection of old science textbooks, William contrived to build, out of scrap metal, tree limbs, and bicycle parts, a windmill that provided his home with electricity, and a solar-powered water pump to suply drinking water to his rural community. From village joke to resident genius, William became a global beacon of hope. To learn about other projects of William Kamkwamba, visit http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/.
His parents, realizing that their son was determined to make a difference, enlisted the help of family and friends. Once the local paper took up his cause, funds for Ryan's well started to roll in. In two months, Ryan raised $7,000 to build his well in Uganda. Today, Ryan's Well Foundation has helped to build over 560 water and sanitation projects in 16 countries. To pitch in and help Ryan's foundation, visit www.ryanswell.ca.
KIDS SAVING THE RAINFORESTS (KSTR)
On NOVEMBER 20, 2009, THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD BECAME SILENT. Their silence was their commitment to raising awareness of children who have no voice because of poverty or exploitation. They are part of Free The Children, an organization founded in 1995 by the then 12 year old Craig Kielburger. Free the Children is a powerful movement of children helping children, and has built over 500 schools worldwide. Their aim is to 'free young people from the notion that they are powerless to affect a positive change in the world'. Today, children are some of the most powerful, persistent and effective change agents on this planet of ours! Get involved! Visit http://www.freethechildren.com/getinvolved/.
His poetry wrings the truth from our hearts and then gives us permission to be our best selves. He lit up the lives of millions with his engaging smile and artless style. Since he left us, the ripples of his message have been gathering strength. More and more youth, and adults, are stepping into the light he created, and becoming the change the world so desires.
'MESSENGER'
* IN REAL LIFE: 'Swan Children' are young people who care enough about the world we live in to want to be agents of change. Every person deserves to be allowed to fulfill their dreams in a world that is safe and healthy. Let's celebrate the extraordinary achievements of real life 'Swan Children', who are bringing this freedom to others!
IN LEGEND OF THE SWAN CHILDREN: Swan Children are youth with special abilities born in fulfilment of a prophecy made a long, long time ago. For centuries, the Guardians of Light kept the sacred bowl of flames and the Wisdom of the Child-Swan hidden, until . . . For more, read Legend of the Swan Children.
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All content copyright © 1996 - 2011 Maureen Marks-Mendonça unless otherwise noted. 'Swan Children' stories are the property of the respective websites. Freeform Mouse Drawings Animation copyright © 1996 - 2011 Maureen Marks-Mendonça. All rights reserved. Home | Legend | Swan Isle | Fun and... | ...Games | Animals | About Us | Links | I-Care | Teen Life | Nature |
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7th
Grader, Chase Greer, learnt the Heimlich Manoeuvre as part of his
Boy Scout training, but never expected to use it. When his friend
began to choke on his lunch, however, the 12 year old Smith Middle
School student of Cypress, Texas did not hesitate. Springing into
action, he performed the manoeuvre 28 times before achieving
success. Once his friend was breathing again, Chase realized the
enormity of what he had done: he had saved a person's life. To hear
him tell the story, visit
Caribbean
youth have stood up and decided to be the change they wish to see in
the world! The Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) has been
operating since the early 1990s, but more recently, a workshop, hosted
by the organization, has been inspiring youth advocates to take
their message to the world. For more on these enterprising youth,
see Caribbean Youth Call for Action on
Canadian
high school teen, Marshall Zhang, has discovered a great new way to
drive the development of drug treatments for diseases. Using
computer modelling on the SCINET supercomputing network at the
Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Marshall discovered that one
plus one could equal three under certain conditions! His goal was to
find a way to treat cystic fibrosis (CF), a potentially fatal
condition caused by genetic mutation, which results in mucus build
up in the lungs and elsewhere, and his hard work and dedication paid
off. He discovered two drugs each of which interacted with different
parts of the mutant protein, and then worked together in a whole new
way as well. The drug cocktail is yet to be tested on humans, but it
gives great hope to the thousands of people living with the
condition. Marshall took first prize in the 2011 Sanofi-Aventis Bio
Talent Challenge. Well done, Marshall! To chat with Marshall Zhang,
follow him on
Kimmie
Weeks has pledged to spend his life helping children who are caught
up in civil wars. He’s been doing it since he was 14. At age 9,
during the Liberian Civil War, he was nearly buried alive. At age
16, he lobbied for the disarmament of 20,000 child soldiers,
exposing his government’s role in training these young children to
kill. Several attempts were made on his life, but he made it safely
to the US where he was given political asylum. Once there, Kimmie
Weeks created the non-profit organization, Youth Action
International (YAI), which helps families living in post war
countries. To date, YAI programs have benefited over 100,000 youth
in war-torn Africa.
WHEN
HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD, Jacob Komar founded Computers for
Communities, a non-profit organization which refurbishes computers
to give to the needy. Jacob first got the idea when he found out
that one of the local grade schools was planning to discard 30 of
their old computers. Knowing that there were kids in his area whose
parents could not afford to buy computers, Jacob, who taught himself
to program at age 5, decided that they could be put to good use.
With the help of fellow techies, he refurbished the computers. Then
he got a list of homes in need from social services, and proceeded
to install a computer in each one. He even made sure that the users
were properly trained.
"I
was moved by the poverty and despair all around and was determined
to help address similar needs back home in the Jackson area," Ashley
recalls, referring to a trip she took to Africa when she was 12
years old. Five years later, Ashley Gunn of Jackson Preparatory
School, Brandon, Mississipi got a chance to turn her words into
action. She started the non-profit organization, Students Aiding
Indigent Families (SAIF), which buys, renovates and sells abandoned
homes to families in need. The 200 student volunteers, who are the
organization’s backbone, are from the Jackson area schools and
churches. Within a year, Ashley was able to help five families, pay
back her initial investors, and raise $100,000 for other charitable
causes. Real estate agents helped her find the families in need –
families who wanted to buy homes but couldn’t obtain loans. One way
you too can do something, is to get involved through
AT
AGE NINE,
Canadian Severn Cullis-Suzuki founded the Environmental Children's
Organization (ECO, so children could learn, and
teach other youth, about environmental issues. Three years
later, she and other group members raised money to attend the
Earth Summit in Rio. After her impassioned speech there, she
became known as 'The girl who silenced the world for five minutes'.
Today, at age 30, Severn continues to be an environmental activist.
You too can become the change you seek. Add your voice to those
saying, "I care!'
WHEN
RYAN HRELJAC HEARD THAT there were people in developing countries
dying because they didn't have clean drinking water, he set out to
raise money to help them build a well. He did extra chores around
the house and raised $70 dollars, but when he took his donation to
the WaterCan, a non-profit agency in Ottawa that funds well building
in developing countries, he soon found out that it would cost $2,000
to drill a well. If he could raise $700, then the Canadian aid
agency, CIDA, would put the rest. Unfazed, the six year old said,
"I'll do more chores then."
AT
NINE YEARS OLD, Janine and her friend, Aislin, vowing to save the rainforests and the
Titi
monkeys of their homeland, Costa Rica, started selling painted rocks
on the roadside to raise funds. A year later, KSTR was born. For more
on the organization's
projects, visit
'MESSENGER'
BY JENI STEPANEK,
Mattie's mother, is a must read. I couldn't put it down. If
anything can galvanize us to do (or continue doing) what we were
meant to do in this life, this book can!! You may have laughed and
cried with Mattie on Oprah, CNN, and Larry King, or read his Heartsongs and peace poetry, but nothing will prepare you for the
intense suffering and the miracles this young boy experienced before
his death in 2004 at aged 14. He is beyond inspirational!! See what Dr. Maya Angelou has to say about this young
hero in the Foreword!