World News

Brennan Wong: Staff Writer

     I was waiting anxiously for my baby brother/sister to be born until that fateful phone call that told my mom her pregnancy was having complications. They also said that the baby might not develop properly, and she would have to make a hard choice. I must have been bawling my eyes out while I was sleeping because in the morning, my eyes were crimson red.

     We all found out that she was eight weeks pregnant on a cold day in March at the doctor's office. When I heard the doctor say that she was pregnant, I was happy, and relieved that I would no longer be the youngest in the family. Little did I know that the doctor's words would never come true.

     She was 3 months pregnant when she was advised to have the operation that would end her pregnancy. In that period of time, she was throwing up, she had headaches, and she never seemed to have a restful sleep. I thought, "Well, that's what a mother has to go through to have a healthy baby." I never guessed that her suffering and discomfort would be all for nothing.

     I was so excited to hear that my future baby brother/sister would be born in November! I was dancing around the house saying, "Our birthdays will be so close together!" My whole family even spent hours thinking about what we should name the baby. We came up with a lot of names but there would be no baby to name.

     That fateful phone call from North York General Hospital is now the turning point of my life. My little baby brother/sister who never had a chance to be born will always be a part of me. My life will never be the same again. I dream that my little brother/sister has gone to a bright and happy place, dancing among the stars high up in the heavens. As the phrase from Rememberance Day says, "Lest we forget."

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Note on the Author: Brennan Wong is the founder of a newspaper company called World News Corporation. He now lives with his mother, father, and sister in Ontario.

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Before I attended the Take Action! Academy in Toronto last summer, I  never thought that a nine-year old like myself could help solve some of the most pressing problems in the world today. I was inspired by the various speakers during the Academy who shared their experiences and taught us how everyone, regardless of their age, could work together to make a difference.

          I left the Academy with many ideas of how to carry out what we have learnt, however, it is a big challenge to focus on one single mission because there are so many urgent needs around the world.  Surprisingly, this all came together for me one day when I read a story about homeless people in Canada written by a foreign journalist. Little did I know that in a country as rich as Canada there could be people without a roof over their heads.  This prompted me to enter a writing contest called “The Meaning of Home” which described how we could help the homeless. When I came in second, Genworth Financial, who was the sponsor, donated $5,000 on my behalf to Habitat for Humanity in York Region.  I realized that the best way to help others is to start helping those closest to home.

          In the past year I have also helped others by donating cash awards from competitions to Free The Children.  I have raised funds from popcorn and freezie sales at school.  Together these events have brought in over $1,000.

         In March I created a website called www.worldnewscorporation.com to bring attention to important news stories that kids should know about. In addition I have begun to publish a weekly newspaper for $0.50 per copy which I sell at school.  The proceeds from the newspaper sale is around $100 so far which I have donated to Free The Children. Last week I started a new organization called World Relief Foundation, www.worldrelieffoundation.webs.com to highlight recent natural disasters and the need for urgent help from everyone.

          My 10^th birthday was my most memorable birthday so far.  I realized that I could turn an ordinary event like a birthday party into something meaningful by asking friends to donate to Free The Children instead of bringing a gift.  I was so excited that I raised over $1,100 and this was reported on the Free The Children / Celebrate For Change website:

www.freethechildren.com/we/celebrateforchange/story.htm 

          A book due out soon called One Peace about Craig Kielburger and the Free The Children programs has requested to include part of my story. I have been interviewed with my sister Shannon on WebTV and Fairchild TV, quoted in press releases in The Toronto Star, The Liberal, and SNAP.  I believe this has helped raise awareness with young people about their possible contributions to worthy causes.

When I was growing up, I always wanted a new game or toy every birthday.I was so preoccupied with chasing down the latest gadget. Then, about three years ago, I became involved with Free the Children who taught me that children in the developing world can not even afford basic needs, let alone a present for their birthday.

 I really wanted to help, I wanted my birthday to mean more than just presents. So you know what I did? I turned my last two birthdays into fundraisers. Everybody who would have bought me presents donated their money to Free the Children.

 When I think back, it really wasn’t a hard choice to make. Sure I was giving up my presents but some little kid in Africa now had the chance to go to school. Nintendo for me, or farm animals for a poor family? A dairy cow could provide income and little kids would no longer have to work as child labor.

 I knew I did the right thing, but I needed others to get involved too! So I started a website called World News Corporation to create awareness for my friends about world events. I also sold snacks and souvenirs through the website to raise funds for Free the Children.   

 Through my effort, and with help from others, we completed a school building project in China last year for Free the Children. This summer, I will join a Me to We trip to Beijing to get a first – hand look at how our contributions have made a difference. 

When I come home from my trip, I will share my experience with my friends to inspire them to think more of we and less of me.

 I believe that if everyone pitches in, we can change the world for the better.

It’s nice to get a birthday present, but there is nothing more rewarding than doing something meaningful on your birthday, like helping a little kid half way across the world.

Imagine, instead of coming to school, getting all the holidays and taking the summer off, you have to work in a coal mine or a factory for 16 hours a day every day of the year! How would you feel about that?!

Many children around the world cannot choose to go to school. Due to poverty, many of them are forced into child labor with no hope of ever attending school. Some do not even know when they were born because they are not registered at birth. These impoverished children are invisible and ignored. They need our help so what can I do as a kid???

          Three years ago, I attended the Take Action! summer camp offered by Leaders Today in Toronto. I was inspired by the various speakers who shared their experiences and taught us how everyone, regardless of their age, could work together to make a difference. Before I attended the camp, I never thought that a nine–year old like me could help solve some of the most pressing problems in the world today.

          I left the camp with many ideas of how to carry out what we have learnt, however, it is a big challenge to focus on so many urgent needs around the world. Surprisingly, this all came together for me one day when I held my 10^th birthday fundraiser. I asked all my guests to donate to Free the Children instead of bringing me gifts. We did some awareness activities at my party to honour the millions of invisible children. I was so excited! I raised over $2500 including my 11^th birthday fundraiser for Free the Children’s school building projects in Kenya and China.

          My last two birthdays were my most memorable so far. I realize that I could turn ordinary birthday parties into something meaningful. These fundraising parties empower me with the sense that, even at my young age, there are concrete actions that can make a contribution, however small. My birthday wish is that we should focus less on me, and more on we. Always think globally!