Kielburger Craig

Craig Kielburger

Public profile: Canadian human rights activist, author, and social entrepreneur. Born December 17, 1982 in Toronto, Canada.

Biography and career

Craig Kielburger is a co‑founder of Free The Children, an organization started in 1995 when he was 12 years old to address child rights and global poverty. The group later evolved into WE Charity (often referred to simply as WE), expanding into education programs, youth empowerment initiatives, and social enterprise through ME to WE. The WE ecosystem has included programs such as WE Schools, WE Day events, and related products and partnerships designed to fund charitable work while engaging young people in social impact.

Across his career, Kielburger has been described as a public speaker, author, and advocate for youth leadership and social entrepreneurship. He has spoken at conferences and events around the world and has contributed to books and resources focused on empowering young people to create social change.

News highlights

• 2020: WE Charity faced significant scrutiny over a government contract in Canada, leading to a shutdown of certain activities and a restructuring of the organization’s governance and operations. The event drew widespread media attention and prompted leadership changes and a reassessment of WE’s programs and partnerships.
• 2020–2024: In the wake of the controversy, Kielburger and partners publicly discussed rebuilding trust, continuing youth empowerment work, and continuing public engagement around education, service, and social entrepreneurship through various WE-related initiatives and speaking engagements.
• Ongoing (as of 2024): Kielburger remains active in public speaking, writing, and advocacy related to young people, education, and global citizenship. The WE brand has undergone restructuring, with activities scaled and repurposed as part of broader social impact efforts.

Recent projects and initiatives

• WE Day and WE Schools programs aimed at engaging students in social action, community service, and global citizenship.
• ME to WE (the for‑profit social enterprise created to fund WE’s charitable efforts) and related product partnerships designed to support community development and education initiatives.
• Authoring and public speaking focused on youth empowerment, leadership, and social entrepreneurship.

Public profiles and social media

Craig Kielburger maintains a presence on major public platforms. For the latest updates, search for his profiles on their respective sites, using his name as the query:

• Twitter/X
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Platform handles and page availability can change over time, so a current search for "Craig Kielburger" on the platform of interest is recommended for accurate, up‑to‑date links and follower counts.

Selected works and themes

Kielburger has contributed to literature and media focused on youth activism, social entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. His work typically centers on empowering young people to effect positive change, ethical leadership, and the role of education in building a more just world.

Key organizations and affiliations

• Free The Children (origin) – evolved into WE Charity
• WE Charity – global education and youth empowerment programs (subject to governance changes and restructuring after 2020)
• ME to WE – for‑profit social enterprise supporting WE Charity’s mission

Note: Public information about ongoing roles and organizational leadership can change. For the most current status, refer to official organization announcements and reputable media reporting.