STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Bilaal Rajan - An Underage Overachiever Who is “Making Change”
By Alex Mandossian on September 23, 2008
Meet Bilaal Rajan. He is 12 years old and lives in Toronto, Canada with his parents.
He started his first micro-fundraising campaign when most kids start reading. At the age of four, Bilaal sold clementines to help raise money for the victims of a devastating earthquake in India.
Through his leadership, he has helped raise millions dollars for children in Southeast Asia, Haiti and Africa. In March, 2005, Bilaal became UNICEF’s Canada Child Representative.
In 2007, he became the Mega Challenge “Top Vote-Getter” for Teleseminar Secrets. In 2008 his new book, Making Change ~ Tips from an Underage Overachiever (Orca Book Publishers) is destined to become a worldwide best-seller!
You can help him out now by purchasing 3 copies of Making Change - one for you; two for parents who often show their disappointment in their kids. Click here to get your copies.
When you meet Bilaal, you soon realize you’ve met someone special. His energy, his humility and unwavering commitment to the Giving Movement puts him in a class of his own. And that’s why I’ve chosen him for my SmartStartGiving interview this month.
Click here to listen to my SmartStartGiving phone interview with this remarkable young man. To paraphrase Gandhi, Bilall is a living example of “being the change he wants to see in the world.”
When I first heard Bilaal speak, I had no idea he was 12 years old. I will be listening to him on this month’s Smart Start Giving call and I hope you will too. He is really remarkable and has a lot to say that we need to hear.
We just listened to a 60-Second Spotlight with Bilaal Rajan and Linda Lopeke over at:
http://www.smartstartgiving.com/giving/smartstartgiving-60-second-spotlight-3/
We look forward to this months Smart Start Giving call.
–Pat & Lorna
What an inspiration this young boy is!! Too often people say “I can’t” instead of making the decision to do something and then look for the first step. I am sure that his initial ideas were small and as he moved or took steps on those ideas, the larger things started happening. This same thing can and does happens for all of us if we just look for how we can.
-Susan
Thanks Alex - for spotlighting what many young people are capable of when supported by the adults around them. Too often, just seen as “kids” our youngsters become bored troublemakers when all they need is direction pointing them toward something truly challenging and meaningful.
Judith Sherven
http://www.bridgingheartandmarketing.com/blog
Thanks Judith … for noticing :-)
Appreciate you,
Alex
Alex, Thanks for spotlighting Bilaal. I look forward to sharing his story with my 9-year old son.
Judith says it best … childen do need support and direction.
I’ve been using Kiva as a tool to teach my son charity and values for the past few years. Please enjoy this 2-minute video we created to share our experience and spread the word.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DonLgpbKWkk
Alex we had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Bilaal at an event in Toronto 2 weeks ago, where you were the masterful MC!
Bilaal is an inspiration not just for kids, but for adults who have forgotten to dream….and believe that anything IS possible.
Thanks for spotlighting this young rising star!
We have had scheduling conflicts with your KIVA calls, but we’ve made time for this call!
and for Dan….great YouTube Video of your son - love the outtakes!
Heidi and Danny
The Dynamic Divorce Duo
Hey Alex….Bilaal is one of the examples I have used to show the students I interact with of what is capable…if you put your mind to it and have the determination and commitment. Actually,I first introduced him to them after he won the mega-challenge.
Thank you for reminding me to do the same again to other students.
Terry
The ‘Raising Smart & Rich Kids’ Mentor’
Hi Alex
Thank you for introducing Bilaal and having him featured on the http://www.SmartStartGiving.com call tomorrow, 9/26. I’m looking forward to hearing the interview!
All the Best
MK
It is inspirational to see youthfull passion guided in such a positive and expansive direction.
This is the kind of “global citizenship” that is needed to transform our world to a place of well being for everyone. Thank you for promoting this message and “being the change”.
~H~
Bilaal,
You are a Leader.
You are an inspiration.
Never let anyone talk to you about age. My husband started his 1st business at age 12, and I grew up with people telling me how I was “too young” to pursue my dreams/ambitions. I ignored them, and pursued them anyway.
Today we’re both living a great life & continue to ignore people who think of us in terms of “age” instead of leadership & wisdom. Do likewise. Be the change you want to see, and KEEP doing what you’re doing - and then some!
You are destined for greatness & the world is better for having you in it!
@CoachDeb
on Twitter
This guy is a true inspiration and the perfect example of the potential that lies inside of all of us.
I have had the honour to meet him and I will definitely be on the http://www.smartstartgiving.com call to listen to the wisdom that he will share.
Keep it up young man!
Being 14 myself, it in a sense shames to think that whilst I’m (by definition) “overachieving”, I’m doing so to further my own development and business.
Seeing someone such as Bilaal make such a positive difference in the world (and being a fellow young author myself) has stirred something in me.
Thanks for sharing Alex! I think it’s about time that we all started following in some rather small footsteps. :P
- David
Hey Bilaal,
Your awesome!! Not only a great ski racer,and team mate a great giver…See you at Blue!
WOW! What an incredible young man. He’s accomplished more in his 12 young years of life than most of us accomplish in a lifetime. He’s an inspiration to all-young and old!
With such a brilliant start in life, one can only look forward to the wonders Bilaal will achieve over the next 10 years…
Congrats Bilaal and thank you for the happiness you are bringing to this world.
And thanks Alex for sharing the story of Bilaal with us. It is sooo inspiring. Yes indeed “Together we can make a difference”…
Dear Alex,
Thank you so much for being a great mentor to Bilaal and helping him spread his message. You certainly have helped him a lot starting from just notes on paper in LA two years ago to a real book and much more.
Thank you for believing in him and guiding him along this journey.
Shamim and Aman
This young man blew me away. I was priveleged enough to hear him speak at a teacher’s conference in Nova Scotia. He is an inspiration to all of us. His parents must be equally amazing to have supported him through all of his endevors. Thanks Bilaal!
I had the pleasure of meeting this young man at a workshop and he definitely made an impression on the rest of the participants when he spoke about his accomplishments and the goals that he has set. I am looking forward to seeing him grow with his endeavors in the future. Every adult that reads this spotlight about Bilaal should make sure to show it to as many children as they can.