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Walk without your shoes for a week and feel how the world's less fortunate children live. That is the appeal UNICEF Ambassador Bilaal Rajan, 12, issued.
To celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 19 to 25), Bilaal spearheaded an initiative in Toronto where he lived' life without shoes for the entire week' to empathise with children in poorer countries who can't afford footwear.
"You never really know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes," he says.
He points out children in poorer countries walk miles barefoot every day. His appeal was circulated widely among students, teachers and the public.
"The response was amazing," Bilaal addds. "People signed up on Facebook and e-mailed from different parts of the world."
He has firsthand seen the plight of thousands and thousands of not so privileged children. He has visited countries in Africa, Latin America and also been to Myanmar as UNICEF's child ambassador.
"When people asked me why I don't have shoes, I told them because too many children throughout the world don't, either," Bilaal says. "My goal is to inspire children to find their passion, take action and create a more caring world."
His publicists say Bilaal Rajan has raised over $5 million for causes in the last eight years. Four years ago, he was named child ambassador for UNICEF Canada.
He recently published a book, Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever.
"I just started dictating my thoughts on the voice recorder," he says, "and it went on and on and finally it was transcribed and edited for publication."
Text: Ajit Jain in Toronto