Name: Bilaal Rajan
When it began: started fundraising at age 4
City: Toronto, Ontario
Website: www.handsforhelp.org
Bilaal Rajan always wanted to help people for as long as he can remember. When his parents told him
about the suffering of people in Gujarat, India after the earthquake, he felt compelled to help and
raised $350 just by selling oranges. Bilaal continued to advocate for children in undeveloped countries
and at 8 years old single handedly raised $50,000 for children affected by the tsunami in South East
Asia in 2004.
He launched a campaign with UNICEF Canada days after the disaster to raise more funds in order to
help children and their families in need. Since then he has become UNICEF's youngest fundraiser and
advocate. Bilaal has also opened his own website: www.handsforhelp.org
What inspired you to start your work with UNICEF?
I started wanting to help people (and still do) when I was just four. My parents told me about the
suffering of the people in Gujarat, India when a massive earthquake struck there. I wanted to help
and since I was eating a mandarin orange at that time, I told my parents that I should start selling
these door to door to raise money to send there. I used up my piggy bank money and went out and
sold $350 worth to residents in my neighborhood. I have walked in support of world poverty for the
World Partnership Walk for the past 6 years and raised more than $15,000.
Bilal with kids in Mexico.
Then last September, a plea in the newspaper from UNICEF with a child’s picture in tears was my
spark to get involved. I asked if I could sell the cookie boxes that my father’s company sells in school.
My father thought that I would only sell 15 boxes to 20 boxes but I sold over 1,000.
Presently, I am working on a project to light up a village in rural Mexico that has no electricity. Using
solar powered LED lighting that I did for my science project, I hope to get children to be able to do
their homework with safe LED lighting instead of unhealthy kerosene and diesel lamps, & candles used
presently. The pilot project in two homes is going very well.
When you first got started, what kind of challenges did you face and how did you tackle them? Were
there any specific challenges you faced because you were a kid?
At first, no one believed that I could make a difference. But slowly with persistence and determination,
I won people’s hearts and support.
It was also hard to get other team members motivated to sell these cookies and to get more to help
sell. But the cookies kept selling and they were surprised that I did not want to give up.
What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishments?
Bilal setting up lighting in a village in Mexico
I think getting the help of others who believed in what I was doing and for the right reasons.
The greatest accomplishment for me was to be an example to other children that anyone can make a
difference—not only adults. I am also glad that I was able to meet, play, and reassure the children
affected by the tsunami that there are other children and people who care about them and will not
forget them. I have set up a website www.handsforhelp.org to enable others to join and help out
children in whichever way.
Is there someone you admire, or something that inspires you everyday to continue your
work?
I think that people like Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, who believed in their cause and did not give up,
are true heroes.
I, too, believe that there is good in all children to help in whatever way to make a difference in the
world. I believe that there should be equality and fairness in the world for all children.
What advice would you give to our EcoKids who are itching to do something just like you
did?
Take the opportunity to make a difference in this world. Take action with small baby steps and you will
be surprised what a difference you have made.
It is to your advantage to be a kid helping. It makes more of an impact to others.