From The Chronicle Herald
HOW CAN THIS person be only 11 years old?
He speaks so well, so maturely, has seen so much of the world, and is so conscious of the welfare of others.
He must be at least 25, just shorter than most adults.
Bilaal Rajan is a mere 11, a Grade 7 student at St. Andrews College in Toronto, and a worldwide ambassador for UNICEF.
A couple of hundred Grade 7 students at Sackville Heights Junior High School hear Bilaal speak of the impact they can have by raising UNICEF dollars at Halloween to provide poor countries with schools and shelter.
The ovation after his Power Point presentation is thunderous and every teacher in the room, and UNICEF Atlantic regional director John Humble, hope the message has been received.
“Today gave our students a chance to see beyond their own world,” says guidance counsellor Cathy Silverstein. “These good kids are very involved in fundraising for projects like the Terry Fox Foundation, Turkey Club and IWK. Many don’t have a lot, but they come across with funds for good causes.”
Student Kaitlin Welcher was impressed with Bilaal. “It’s amazing that he’s raised five million dollars,” she says. “And I’d never have the courage to talk in front of this number of people.”
“Bilaal grew up in a giving way of life,” says Aman, who, with his wife, Shamim, has always volunteered in their Ismaili Muslim community, which believes in taking care of the other person.
Bilaal, with two books on fundraising and motivation ready for publishing next spring, has spoken to groups for years. Just last summer, he spent several weeks in Tanzania on UNICEF’s behalf. After the tsunami in 2004, he visited Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives to encourage children and adults, and to see where the needs were greatest so he could raise more money.
The young Richmond Hill resident speaks English and French fluently and understands and speaks some Spanish and Mandarin. His marks are straight A’s. He studies while on the road, as he has been for the last 10 days in the Maritimes, addressing schools on UNICEF’s trick-or-treat campaign.
“Together we can make a difference,” he tells the Sackville students. “My passion is making a difference. You can do it, too.”
He begins his speech asking the question, “How do you start a fire?”
An audience member answers, “Use a match.”
Someone else calls out, “Rub sticks together.”
Like a good instructor, Bilaal agrees, but then says, “All it takes is one spark. I want each of you to be that spark for children around the world.”
Bilaal Rajan, 11, Richmond Hill, Ont., is a UNICEF ambassador who spoke to Grade 7 classes at Sackville Heights Junior High School on Wednesday. Among the students were Kaitlin Welcher, Melissa Robinson and Joel Patey, all 12 years old. (Joel Jacobson)
He cites examples in Malawi and Rwanda, where he has also travelled. “Half the people live on a dollar a day. Half don’t go past Grade 5. Here you have 30 children and one teacher in a classroom. There they have 150 in a class and one teacher, and sometimes three kids for one desk.”
A small effort by you can make a big difference for them, he says.
Where did this kid get the oomph to do all this?
“I saw a UNICEF ad in the paper when I was in Grade 4, seeking aid for Haiti after a hurricane,” he says. “I asked my parents how I could help and they suggested I donate my allowance. I got $10 a month and thought that wasn’t enough.”
His father, Aman, a Canadian since he was 10, is a wholesale food distributor. He sells healthy foods to Toronto-area schools and Bilaal asked to sell cookie boxes at his school.
“I thought he’d sell a few dozen boxes,” recalls Aman, travelling with his son on this Maritime excursion, “but he sold 1,000 dozen boxes.”
Bilaal nods. “I sold them at recess and after school, and then sold them at busy places throughout Toronto. I raised $6,000. Then I made cold calls to businesses and corporations and got $467,000 worth of goods for Haiti. It just snowballed from there.”
Snowballed, indeed.
“After the tsunami in 2004, I asked UNICEF to send out a challenge to raise $100 for each child. My goal was $1 million. Through that request, we raised $1.8 million, which was matched by the (Canadian) government and now my total fundraising is up to about $5 million.”
Bilaal, who speaks at teachers’ conferences, too, says he does this because he knows it’s right. “There are children out there who need our help. They need it more than we do.”
He says he’s a normal kid who skateboards, plays soccer, lacrosse, tennis and skis. “I love to read and play drums,” he adds.
“Bilaal grew up in a giving way of life,” says Aman, who, with his wife, Shamim, has always volunteered in their Ismaili Muslim community, which believes in taking care of the other person.
He’s proud of Bilaal. “He’s mature and he won’t quit. We say ‘Wow’ at all this but it doesn’t faze him. Whenever I hear him (speak), it’s hard not to blush. We’re really proud.”
They’ll probably be even more proud when Bilaal achieves his dream of being an astronaut AND a neurosurgeon.
“His goal is to be the first man on Mars in 2025,” says Aman. “He’ll only be 29, maybe a bit young, but with Bilaal, you never know.”
Ismailimail 
Bilaal, you’re truly an amazing kid. Keep up the good work, Mashallah!
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With Ismaili kids like Bilaal, there are only two things I can say:
1) Our future is truly secured.
2) Ismailies are hitting up the global scene left and right. World watch out!
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Bilal u have made yourselves a light which will never be perished
i congartulate u for yr excellent work
may almighty allah bless u yr family members with happiness courage long life & prosperity Ameen
wish u best of luck
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Bilal
May the spark you ignite in others continues to tend the fire inside you…
Best wishes for success in all your undertakings
Congrats.
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Hey Bilal, you are not only an inspiration to the kids but adults alike. Generosity and kindness are some of the virtues we Muslims foster and you are a living example of that. Congratulations and every success in all your future endeavours and your dream of becoming an astronaut and a neurosurgeon. I am an Ismaili and I am very proud of you!
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Ismaili Community Is Very Proud Of You. You Have Given The Spark To The Whole Universe. I Had Tears In My Eyes When I Read Your Article. I Don’t Have Word’s To Express My Gratitude. You Will Achieve Anything You Desire. Good Luck And My Best Wishes. Your Parents Must Be Rejoicing To See Your Progress.
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Hey Bilal,
What an amazing thing you have achieved!! You are one in a million and I salute your commitment, your dedication and your values of helping others! Keep up the good work – congratulations!
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Bilal, what a wonderful work you are doing for the third world. Keep up the good work. We, Ismailies, are very proud of you. May you be blessed with long life, happiness and success in your career.
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Bilal, WOW, as an Ismaili you make me very proud. Keep up the good work, and I will be looking for your name on many more accomplishments that are sure to come. Concratulations to you and your family for your achivements.
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the voice of Bilal was loud and clear. today you reminded me of him who was chosen by the prophet to call out people to come together. you are definately an angle. Good job.
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may mowla gives u strength to spread this spark in everybody’s heart n v r with u billal the champ among us.
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Dear Bilal
Congarulation to u and yours Family
Good Work Keep it up
Best Wishes for everywork in ur Life
Ameen
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5. Shamim – October 31, 2007
Congratulations and Well done Bilal.
May the almighty Allah bless you and your family with lots of happiness and long healthy life. “Amen”
Best wishes for your success.
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Bilal,
I hope the spirit of generosity and the will to give and make the people understand that and have them share and give – live in within you for a long time to come. I really commend you and your family on your good deeds. Well done young man – may Mowla give you more and more courage everyday to carry on with your noble cause and help you achieve your goals and may you live a long, healthy and happy life. Amen. May you succeed in all your endevours and may Mowla be with you every step of the way. Keep up the good work!
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Bilal…you make us so proud!
May He take you by the hand and teach you how to fly and forever enlighten you so you can fully participate in Allah’s creation. If you are ever in Calgary, phone me and I will take you out for a slurpee…I am sure you have many interesting stories to tell!
May you be blessed, Bilal!
Nimira Haji
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Bilal,
Hi 5’s to you!! Way to go!!You have a bright future ahead.May Allah safeguard you throughout-Ameen.
Harji family of Montreal wishes you the best!!
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17.Rozina Dhanji
YAM Bilal,
Good Job keep it up
All the best in your future endeavors.
Rozina Dhanji & Family
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More on Bilaal Rajan
Inspirational Kids: Bilaal Rajan
Bilaal Rajan’s own blog.
The Five Million Dollar Kid.
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Bilal, we are all proud of you for doing the impossible for humanity at large and a role model for others to emulate. May Mowla bless you and your family and keep you under His protection. Ameen. Mansur from Pakistan
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Bilal,
You have just proved that the only limits to what we can achieve are the ones we set ourself. You are blessed and I pray that you continue to spread this spark you ignite for many years to come. Bismillah!
Shenaz
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bilal,
you are indeed not only the ambassador of UNICEF, but of ISLAM and his progeny…………….!
Keep up the good work, and be grounded and you will achieve your dreams………….maybe before u r 29 = 11, which if u could get this far, nothing is impossible 4 u
Always remember wer u come from and your journery and may u always be under his guidance and shadow to fulfil your dreams. i must give shabaash to your parents for raising someone like you (remember, bilal was the first muezin at “that” time and you will be first something at “this ” time of this 21st century
ameen
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Dear Beelal,
You are super amazing kid and as Ismailis we Proud of You and your Family!!! Keep up your hard work and success will always knock your Door! Wish You all the Best in your Future Goals!
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Dear Bilal,
Im only 14 though reading what you have accomplished
makes me feel really young. I am very pleased to see an eleven year old do something pretty awesome!!!
THANKS!!
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good work Bilal.
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Dear Bilal,
Your work is inspiring not only the Ismailia community but the world community. The spark which you speak of has already been ignited by you and Inshallah there will be a spark in every heart. I am very proud of you and I am sure your parents are as well. I wish you luck on your journey and May Moula make all your dreams come true.
Best Wishes,
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Dear Bilal,
The whole world must be proud of you. Keep up the good and challenging work. You are an inspiration for all the kids around the world. You have proved that it does not matter who ever you are your spirit of helping others and working hard on it makes this difference. The support of your family was the most important factor in your success and May God bless them and give you all the courage to keep up the hard work. May your wishes and goals in life come true. Once again congrats and good wishes.
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Hi,
It so happened that I was discussing about Ismailies and our faith with my colleagues at work and explaining them the ethics of AKDN, and I came thru this article, and WOW.. thereafter I just showed them the article and whatever I said about AKDN and Ismailies, was proved to be right. Awesome Job – Billal, Aman and Shamim, Awesome Timing – to do this deed in this particular year.
Jimmy Sarfani, Hyderabad, India.
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dear bilal,
you have been doing these philantropic acts for so many years and we in the u.s.a. do not even know about it!!! i am so proud of you and pray that you do much greater similar acts in the future. i was reading a book ‘a passage to eternity” by azmina suleman and i understand from it that you have been sent to earth by our Lord to fulfill your mission of helping humankind in all ways possible. you have achieved a lot in your previous lives and now you have been blessed to carry on these most noble acts for the betterment of all humans, and generally, life. my best wishes are for you.
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Dear Bilal . MAY ALLAH BLESS YOU MORE AND MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE. AMEEN. MY SALUTE TO YOU
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DEAR BILAL
YU REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART.KEEP IT UP AND BEST OF LUCK IN FUTURE.MAY U AND YOUR FAMILY BE BLESSED.AMEEN
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Dear Bilal:
You make the Ismaili Community proud. Keep up the good work and may you always be blessed by Allah’s grace. Amen.
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Congradulations on your big success. I am very proud of you. May allah give you more strenght and courage to carry out these missions. I wish you all the best in your future successes. Ameen
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Ya Ali Madad Bilal
We are extremely proud of you, your family and your grand parents in Calgary, who have inspired you, nurtured you and instilled such goodness in your heart. We pray that you continue this Momentum of caring, loving and compassion, and that you touch the hearts and lives of as many people as you can with Allah’s grace. We pray that you are given lots of opportunities to share your leadership qualities with the young and the not so young across Canada and around the world.
Bilal, congratulations on your achievement and success in making such an amazing difference in our world, at such a young age of 11! You are unselfishly giving your life for the benefit of the people in the world. We all need to follow your example! There is so much work to be done!
It is unfortunate that on your last visit to Calgary, the opportunity was not there, for you to address our jamat, but we hope that those opportunities will be created for you, so that you can reach out to more young and the not so young minds and hearts.
Life is about serving others and you have found your purpose at such a young age!
Thank you and congratulations!
Nassim, & Mohamed
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YAM
bilal you are great as your name your work is god gifted all we need is more BILAL so young boys wake up and inspire the living worldthank you and god blessyou
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BILAL
Congratulations on your achievements and success.We pray to Allah
to give you good health and courage to continue to make a difference
in the world.
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hi Bilaal
Congratulation… to u and ur family.
We are proud of you.
Keep it up.
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Great job Indeed!
I work in Afghanistan, and reading your article, made me feel that we need to do more for our jamat. You are an impact on others.
I hope me, and my family avails opportunity to assist our Jamats in need.
I wish you good luck; you are truly a aspiration for me
Regards,
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Bilal
You are a true inspiration and we all are really very proud to have someone like you in our Ismaili community.
We pray for your success in your future endeavors.
Keep up the good work!!
Yasmin
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Dearest Bilal,
You are special angel,
Send especially for US,
He will guide you on your way
And be with you in all that you do.
We are proud of you.
Good Luck for your Future!!!!
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Truly admirable…..Only if more in the world have the drive and selflessness you do…it would truly be a better place…Amazing. May God bless you with strength and courage to continue making a difference.
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wow! what an amzing kid. U r the fire that we need in all of us. Keep up the good work…. Nawaz, South Florida.
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You are the man Bilal! I am proud of you sir GREAT WORK! you are good example for my future kids.
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Well done! Bilal, you are really making a difference in our world. It will be the Youth of today that will be the ambassadors for tomorrow. May you achieve all your dreams, for yourself and the world.
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Hi Bilal,
Very impessed. I too had tears in my eyes when I read about you and your achievements. Truly your parents and your community are proud of what you have don and continue to do. All the best wishes for future
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Well done Bilal,
My salute to you on your success
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Dear Bilal,
Mubarak, u make us all so proud! May MHI give u strenght to continue in the right path.
May all ur wishes come true.
May ur parents and family be blessed with a lot of Barakat,unity, Peace, Success, Happiness, Health, Love and fulfill all your Dreams
Ameen
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congratulations bilal keep up the good work you made mowla and ismaili comunity proud we all are proud of you.
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dear Bilal,
you bring tears in my eyes.you have inspired me a lot. i will try to raise my kids with this inspiration. we all want to do good. but you are doing it. keep it up! good luck for your future.
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YAM BILAL,
Well done, for all your hard work it makes us very proud to be Ismailis and to have kid like you to inspire and ignite the spark.May you continue with this good work…Ameen
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Hi Dude,
Congratulations to u and ur family.
We are proud of you.
Keep it up.
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YAM Bilal
Excellent
Congratulations and Well done.
May the Allah bless you and your family with health lots of happiness and long healthy life. “Amen”
Best wishes for your success.
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Shukhar, we have talented young energetic boy like you i congratulate you and your family, but accept my advise as challenge to you make sure you do this best of your ability and try to indulge more friends to contribute something of their ability too. Say your prayers regulary the only key to success, all the best
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Shukhar..
wow, Bilal has really inspired me..
Amazing…
Keep up the great work!! :)
and I’ll pray Mowla always grant you success in any endevour.
Ameen
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YAM Bilal, Aman, Shamim
I haven’t seen you guys in a long time and it was a great pleasure to read this article
Take care hope to see you soon
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Very good work Bilal keep on being a good example to the youth
and adults as well the whole world must be proud of you
GOD BLESS
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Hi Bilal,
you are amazing
you must be so happy
of what you have done
and all of the people you have blessed
not alot of people have the courage like you
keep up the awesome work
your ski friend
Emma Leishman
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hey bilal, i need kids like you to come and talk to my bui class. i am sure they would love having you in the classroom. first hand proof that age is not a barrier to making a difference.
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Masha Allah, Shukar, ameen.
“YOU ARE TRULY A PILLAR to the SERVICE OF MANKIND”…..
Keep it Up !!…..
ALL OUR PRAYERS for yr SUCCESS, IA, ameen.
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