13 Year-Old Activist Carries Olympic Torch to Honour Children of the World
17 December 2009, Toronto, Canada

Bilaal Rajan, the 13 year-old Unicef Children’s Ambassador, youth activist, best-selling author and fundraiser, carried the Olympic flame through the streets of Toronto on Thursday 17 December 2009. Barely a teenager, the Toronto-based children’s and environmental activist is already a force to be reckoned with. An accomplished writer, Rajan’s book, 'Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever', shows people how they can take charge and make a difference in their communities, no matter what their age.

"Carrying the torch was an amazing experience and an incredible honour," said Rajan, whose relay started at the entrance of Sick Kids Hospital. He ran through the freezing temperatures to help raise awareness of child poverty in developing countries. "Too many young people in the world today lack basic necessities such as clean drinking water, health care and education."

"The Olympics have such an important message of international cooperation, peace and friendship, and just to participate in this event was overwhelming," said Rajan.

At 4, Rajan stepped up to take on the problems of the world by selling clementine oranges door-to-door raising money for victims of the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat, India. Since then, he has raised millions of dollars for children’s causes. At 7, he founded Making Change Now, an organization dedicated to heightening awareness of youth and environmental issues and fundraising for those in need. In March 2005, he was chosen as an official Children’s Ambassador for UNICEF Canada.

"From an early age," says Rajan,"I could see that millions of other young people around the world didn’t have it so good. I realized two specific things: that I had to get involved and make a difference, and that I would need a lot of help in order to make that change."

Rajan recently created a new website, SudokuHub.com, where users can play the numeric-based puzzle that is sweeping the world in popularity. But unlike other gaming sites, SudokuHub.com will allow users to play and raise funds to provide food for malnourished children in developing countries. "We wanted to find a way where young people could have fun while making a difference during the holiday season. After all, this is the time of year to give," says Rajan. "We expect the site to become the leading destination for online Sudoku players around the world."