We Have to Act Now!

I hope that after watching this video, Bilaal's inspiring words will have an impact on you, and perhaps you too will join the Barefoot Challenge this week. It's about raising awareness for people who do not have simple necessities such as shoes. It's about really understanding what other people are going through around the world, so we can better realize how lucky we are to live the life that we have. It's about possibly helping people who live in extreme poverty, after we have, literally, walked a mile in their shoes.

Disappointment Today

Today was a disappointment with the Barefoot Challenge. At school, my teachers and principal did not let me go barefoot. I was in fact sent to the office, for voicing my opinions. I thought that it was very unfortunate that there were administrative rules that have been put in place to not let students do this kind of stuff without teacher involvement. There was also some health issues with going barefoot, even though I think that this is kind of the point of this challenge, as many millions of people around the world are also facing health risks due to improper footwear.

After the fact though, I am now thinking that I maybe should have let my principal know about this beforehand, I had let my teacher know, but I guess that was not enough.

One good thing came out of today though, the other kids in my class really helped me out in trying to do the right thing. They helped me try persuade our teachers to let us go barefoot for poverty awareness. Unfortunately though, our attempts failed, but I really think I got my classmates thinking about why we were trying to do this.

So I will still be doing the Barefoot Challenge, but I guess I will not be able to go barefoot in my school.

I am not giving up though! This week I am going to try and have a sort of "shoe drive" where I collect shoes from my classmates, and then I will donate them to the Bissel Centre, Boyle Street and the Mustard Seed. (I will be doing this after school hours and outside of school grounds) If you are reading this and you live in Edmonton, if you would like, you could also drop some shoes off at the Legal Resource Centre (where my mom works) at #201 10350 124th Street, in Edmonton.

To learn more about the Bissel Centre and the Mustard Seed, go to: http://www.bissellcentre.org/donations.htm (the Bissel Centre) and http://www.mustard.ab.ca/content.php?ID=65 (the Mustard Seed).

If you live in other cities, or even perhaps other countries around the world, if you would like to be a part of this, please search your community for places to donate footwear.

Thank You.

Barefoot Challenge

12 year old Bilaal Rajan from Ontario will be going barefoot this week to raise awareness that many people around the world don't have such necessities as shoes. He also wants many other people to go barefoot as well this week, for an hour, a day or even the whole week.
I will also be going barefoot this whole week, and I hope that everyone who reads this will too, or at least for an hour or a day or two.
The point of this challenge is mainly to raise awareness. Bilaal is sure that once people walk barefoot for some time, they will finally realize how hard it is for so many people in underdeveloped countries to go about their lives.
Bilaal Rajan himself started fundraising when he was 4 years old, since then, he has raised millions of dollars to help people around the world. He has even seen first hand the effects of not wearing shoes after going to Tanzania, Malawi and rural Mexico.
I am hoping that many people will go barefoot this week and help raise awareness.
To learn more about Bilaal and the Barefoot Challenge go to: www.bilaalrajan.com/blog

Snow

It snowed in Edmonton today - CRAZY. It is April, isn't it? It was supposed to snow 20 cm last night and today all together!!! It is all gone now though, I just hope it is for good...
Oh, and by the way, I don't think I ever mentioned that there was an interview with me in KidzWorld magazine for this month's issue. I think that is why there are now so many young followers who have recently started their own blogs. I would just like to correct some things in my interview, though - I am still 12, not 13!!! Also, the swim club that I am in, is not a Junior High club, but instead it is Penguin Swim Club, just thought I'd mention that.
Anyway, otherwise great interview:) And also, thanks for all the new readers of my blog!!!

Operation Disk Drop

Hello all!
I know it's been a while since I last posted, but I have been quite busy.
I'm just posting to talk about the Operation Disk Drop. This is the same one that I talked about last year, when I dropped a disk off in Edmonton. But today, I dropped another CD off in Winnipeg (I am there for Easter), at the Forks on the 4th or 5th floor of the big tower, leaning against the window. If you found that CD, please comment to let me know that you got CD, and if you like it.
Tis disk that I dropped off in Winnipeg today is actually the start of a project I'm doing to try and drop CDs off in every city that I visit.
I will post some more about this new project and the Operation Disk Drop, including cities I will soon be dropping off CDs in.
To learn more about Operation Disk Drop, go to the Hours website.