12 Year Old Child Author Excels at 'Making Change' with Global Fundraising

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Eight Principles to Maximize Your True Potential

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) November 10, 2008

Toronto-based author and UNICEF Canada ambassador Bilaal Rajan is only twelve years old, but his new book Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever (160 pages, Orca Book Publishers) shows he is as accomplished a writer as he is a fundraiser and children's rights activist.

Rajan is holding the official launch of his book on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 10:30 AM at the Memorial Chapel at St. Andrew's College in Aurora, Ontario where he is in grade eight. Many dignitaries will be in attendance from the public and private sector including government officials.

"Everyone has potential," says Rajan. "But then I thought to myself, why wait until we're adults? What if there was something to read for young people, written by a young person?" The objective of the book is to inspire one million children to take action and create a more peaceful, caring world during their lifetimes. "I want kids to find their passion, get involved and know that they can do amazing things and make a difference in the lives of others," he says.

For Rajan, it all started when he was only four years old, when he sold clementine oranges door-to-door to raise money for victims of the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat, India. Since then, he has raised over $5 million for various causes, and in March 2005 he was chosen as an official Child Ambassador for UNICEF Canada.

"I have never in my 30 years of teaching, taught a student who was so driven and determined to improve the world he lives in," says Mike Hanson, St. Andrew's Director of the Middle School at St. Andrew's College. "He truly leads by example and is the youngest student in the history of St. Andrew's to endow an award at Prize Day - the Middle School Hands for Help Community Service Award."

In Making Change, Rajan not only tells the ongoing story of these achievements in transforming lives, but also delivers great advice on how anyone can get involved. His "Eight Principles to Maximize Your True Potential," written about in the second half of his book, were developed from self-help and motivational workshops he gave last summer to children in Africa.

Rajan makes it fun and easy for readers as well. In Chapter 2, titled "Get Creative," he lists more than ninety different fundraising ideas for young people to engage in. "In Making Change, I show how possible - and how much fun - it really is to get involved," he says. "I focus on being creative, thinking big, being bold, and never taking 'no' for an answer. I especially wanted to show kids that no matter who you are, where you're from, or what language you speak, you can change the world."

The book has already received high praise. Craig Kielburger, founder and chair of Free the Children, says: "We often refer to young people as 'the leaders of tomorrow,' but more and more, the youth of the world are showing us they can truly be leaders of today. Making Change reminds us that there's no need to wait." Senator Romeo Dallaire says: "Making Change is a new 'hands-on' book full of very useful ways to achieve personal and organizational goals. The fact that Bilaal has been able to produce such a piece of work with such clarity and discipline of mind is just outstanding."

Proceeds from the book will go to UNICEF and other programs that benefit children around the world. More information on the book can be found on its website at http://www.makingchangenow.com, or on Rajan's website at http://www.bilaalrajan.com.

Rajan will speak about the inspiration for writing his first book and the impact it will have on educators and young people. He will also be available for media interviews at the event.

Contact: Sean Cain
Telephone Number: 905-849-8585
Email Address: bilaal @ makingchangenow.com
Web site address: http://www.makingchangenow.com or http://www.bilaalrajan.com

St. Andrew's College is located at 15800 Yonge Street. Aurora, ON. http://www.sac.on.ca.

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