Elisha Lerner / McGill Tribune

Internationally renowned Canadian activist Craig Kielburger opened the Desautels Business Conference on Sustainability (DBCS) last Thursday, Jan. 19 with a keynote speech that addressed the importance of developing sustainable solutions to global issues.  

Currently in its ninth year, the DBCS is a three-day long conference that gives post-secondary students from all over North America the opportunity to attend presentations by experts and participate in discussions on the topic of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.  

Kielburger is the founder of Free the Children, an organization promoting youth involvement in projects that provide education, health care, clean water, and alternative income programs in 45 countries around the world. 

“We asked Craig to deliver the keynote speech because he combines business acumen with a strong sense of community, responsibility , and accountability,” Dylan Kristofic, co-chair of the conference, said. “[Furthermore], his story can inspire young students and send the message that one person can make a difference.”

Having founded Free the Children at age 12, Kielburger wants to dispel the widespread perception that youth cannot create lasting change in the world. 

“There were people [back then] who looked at us and said ‘How cute—this group of kids wants to make a difference. But wait. Wait until you get a good job … then you can change things,'” Kielburger said.  

Now in its 18th year, Free the Children is a hugely successful movement that remains largely funded by youth. Kielburger, however, expressed concern at the growing competition between an ever-increasing number of charities. 

“It is such a crowded space in the non-profit world,” Kielburger said. “What if instead of competing, there was recognizing [that] we all share a common purpose—we all want a more peaceful, just, communitarian world?” 

He also emphasized the need for non-profit organizations to focus on sustainable enterprises, and build a clear “exit strategy” that allows the organizations to withdraw their aid when the targeted community has reached a level of economic sustainability.  

“Charity doesn’t work—sustainable development does,” he said. 

Kielburger asked his audience of predominantly management students to consider a future in the non-profit sector, where he says there is great need for their skills. Though employees may be paid less than their for-profit counterparts, these positions are still highly competitive.  

“We have [university graduates who] take a pay cut massively to come work in a social enterprise because they see the social investment side of what they’re doing,” Kielburger said.

“They want a life of purpose, not just a paycheck. They want to be inspired and engaged.”

Though he knows that most students will not ultimately find employment in organizations like Free the Children, Kielburger said he believes that even those in the for-profit sector can further his hopes for a more humane world— for example, by helping industries to limit their use of child labour.  

“Even if you never [enter] into the non-profit world,” Kielburger said, “we need you in the for-profit world to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

Kielburger’s speech was received with a standing ovation. Audience members expressed admiration for his speech and enthusiasm for work in the non-profit sector.  

“It was extremely inspiring,” Sue Kwon, U3 management, said. “This definitely made me want to start [a career in the non-profit sector] tomorrow.”

“I think this is the sixth time I’ve heard him speak,” Eileen Chen, a U1 management student with extensive past involvement in Free the Children, said. “But this [speech], since it was in such a business context, I really found that it tapped to the core of my values.”