1. Two years ago Craig Keilburger, a Canadian boy then only 12 years old, founded an organisation called Free the Children aimed at ending child exploitation and helping children all over the world to protect their rights. Here is Craig's interview published in Newsweek on August 4, 1997.
1) What were his answers to the questions? (reading for specific information)
NEWSWEEK:
Where did the idea for Free the Children originate?
Did you find other teenage volunteers?
Do you feel that adults listen to you?
Can teenagers teach the world something that adults can't?
What do you want to do when you finish school?
Craig Keilburger
Yes and no. When we began, our first problem was taken seriously. Many of our members are 8 or 9 years old. The big question was, how can a group like this understand the issue of child labor? So we did our research; we began learning from, local organizations and from the children themselves. Now we have young peop e who are able to stand up (fight against) to debates with heads of companies or world leaders.
Unbelievably. Young people want to get involved they want to have a voice. We Started with аbout 12 young people in Toronto, and we now have groups all across Canada and the United States, in Australia' Brazil, Chile, Singapore
I think they can. I remember when adults would come to the school and say, "You're young people, you're our hope for the future, our leaders of tomorrow," and I remember always thinking, "Well, that's nice, but why can't we be the leaders of today?" Young people have a lot to offer and they bring a new perspective. Basically, who better understands the rights of children and the situation of children than children themselves?
I was reading the local newspaper. And I came across (found by chance) an article about a young Pakistani boy, whose photo was on the front page with the headline BOY, 12 YEARS OLD, SPOKE OUT, MURDERED. And that caught my attention because I was also 12 years old at that point. I read about how at the age of 4 he was sold into slavery (рабство). And how at 10 he was finally able to escape and began to speak out (speak freely) for working children in Pakistan and around the world. And how at the age of 12 he was murdered. I began to do more research, until I learned that 250 million children are involved working around the world. I went to my class at school and said, "Listen, here's an issue. This is what I know about it. This is what I want to do. Who wants to help?" And from there Free the Children was born.
When I'm older, I hope to become a doctor. I would like to be a part of Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), because MSF believes that when it comes to people, whether they be in Congo or Somalia, they're not just that country's problem, they're the world's problem. It's like Free the Children - we don't believe children are Thailand's or Brazil's children; they're the world's children and thus the world's responsibility.
2) Here are some items connected with the issues discussed in the interview.
What are these issues?
• 250 million children • a Pakistani boy
• Doctors Without Borders • 12 young people
3) Find in the interview what was said about:
+ Craig's opinion on children's rights;
+ the results of Craig's project;
+ Craig's ambitions for the future.
4) What do you think is the main point of the interview? Choose one from the list, (understanding the
function of the text)
• to proclaim children's right to take an active part in everyday life
• to describe how ambitious Craig Keilburger is
• to make a statement about the exploitation
• to draw adults' attention to children's problems
5) Here are some arguments for and against teenage working. Which ones do you think Craig Keilburger
would agree with? (understanding unstated ideas)
Job teaches young people the value of work.
Job distracts young people from their studies.
No child should be allowed to work, it's cruel.
All children should have some work experience before they go out into the 'real world'.
Part-time jobs help parents financially because the teenagers earn their own money.
If children have to work it means, their parents can't give them enough money to cover their expenses.
6) Which of the arguments above do you agree or disagree with? Why?
7) Does the law about children's involvement in work in your country correspond to the right proclaimed by the UN Convention? Use the information from Obshchaya Gazeta. (interpreting information)
По "Закону о квотировании рабочих мест в городе Москве" каждое предприятие обязано принимать на работу подростков, которые должны составлять 1 процент от числа работающих. Ребята 14—16 лет не должны работать более четырех часов в день, 16-18 лет - более шести. Подросткам запрещается работать в метро, теплицах, мыть окна выше первого этажа. С 16 лет разрешено торговать продуктами (обязательно в упаковке) и напитками.
Общая газета, 2~8 июля 1998 г.
1) What were his answers to the questions? (reading for specific information)
NEWSWEEK:
Where did the idea for Free the Children originate?
Did you find other teenage volunteers?
Do you feel that adults listen to you?
Can teenagers teach the world something that adults can't?
What do you want to do when you finish school?
Craig Keilburger
Yes and no. When we began, our first problem was taken seriously. Many of our members are 8 or 9 years old. The big question was, how can a group like this understand the issue of child labor? So we did our research; we began learning from, local organizations and from the children themselves. Now we have young peop e who are able to stand up (fight against) to debates with heads of companies or world leaders.
Unbelievably. Young people want to get involved they want to have a voice. We Started with аbout 12 young people in Toronto, and we now have groups all across Canada and the United States, in Australia' Brazil, Chile, Singapore
I think they can. I remember when adults would come to the school and say, "You're young people, you're our hope for the future, our leaders of tomorrow," and I remember always thinking, "Well, that's nice, but why can't we be the leaders of today?" Young people have a lot to offer and they bring a new perspective. Basically, who better understands the rights of children and the situation of children than children themselves?
I was reading the local newspaper. And I came across (found by chance) an article about a young Pakistani boy, whose photo was on the front page with the headline BOY, 12 YEARS OLD, SPOKE OUT, MURDERED. And that caught my attention because I was also 12 years old at that point. I read about how at the age of 4 he was sold into slavery (рабство). And how at 10 he was finally able to escape and began to speak out (speak freely) for working children in Pakistan and around the world. And how at the age of 12 he was murdered. I began to do more research, until I learned that 250 million children are involved working around the world. I went to my class at school and said, "Listen, here's an issue. This is what I know about it. This is what I want to do. Who wants to help?" And from there Free the Children was born.
When I'm older, I hope to become a doctor. I would like to be a part of Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), because MSF believes that when it comes to people, whether they be in Congo or Somalia, they're not just that country's problem, they're the world's problem. It's like Free the Children - we don't believe children are Thailand's or Brazil's children; they're the world's children and thus the world's responsibility.
2) Here are some items connected with the issues discussed in the interview.
What are these issues?
• 250 million children • a Pakistani boy
• Doctors Without Borders • 12 young people
3) Find in the interview what was said about:
+ Craig's opinion on children's rights;
+ the results of Craig's project;
+ Craig's ambitions for the future.
4) What do you think is the main point of the interview? Choose one from the list, (understanding the
function of the text)
• to proclaim children's right to take an active part in everyday life
• to describe how ambitious Craig Keilburger is
• to make a statement about the exploitation
• to draw adults' attention to children's problems
5) Here are some arguments for and against teenage working. Which ones do you think Craig Keilburger
would agree with? (understanding unstated ideas)
Job teaches young people the value of work.
Job distracts young people from their studies.
No child should be allowed to work, it's cruel.
All children should have some work experience before they go out into the 'real world'.
Part-time jobs help parents financially because the teenagers earn their own money.
If children have to work it means, their parents can't give them enough money to cover their expenses.
6) Which of the arguments above do you agree or disagree with? Why?
7) Does the law about children's involvement in work in your country correspond to the right proclaimed by the UN Convention? Use the information from Obshchaya Gazeta. (interpreting information)
По "Закону о квотировании рабочих мест в городе Москве" каждое предприятие обязано принимать на работу подростков, которые должны составлять 1 процент от числа работающих. Ребята 14—16 лет не должны работать более четырех часов в день, 16-18 лет - более шести. Подросткам запрещается работать в метро, теплицах, мыть окна выше первого этажа. С 16 лет разрешено торговать продуктами (обязательно в упаковке) и напитками.
Общая газета, 2~8 июля 1998 г.