For 24 hours—beginning on March 5 at 3 p.m. EST—young people around the world will act in solidarity to give a voice to children who have been silenced by poverty. By taking part in the Vow of Silence campaign, you’re exercising your power to speak up for children’s rights, and spreading awareness so that others can begin to take action too. You can also collect pledges for each hour you remain silent, and raise money to fund sustainable solutions to poverty and related issues through Free The Children’s schoolbuilding, alternative income, health care and water and sanitation projects.

Visit the Vow of Silence website at iamsilent.com to learn more about how you can spread the silence and to get online resources.

Here’s how to take the Vow:

1. Learn the facts:

Why March 5?

The annual Vow of Silence campaign is held in March because in March of 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, revolutionizing global communication and making it easier than ever for people to share ideas and express opinions. While we encourage you to join the movement happening on March 5-6, you can take the Vow of Silence any day of the year. Why are so many children kept silent?

Some children are silenced by hunger, others by lack of education. Some are forced to work as child labourers and are punished for speaking out against unsafe and unfair work conditions.

Check out the facts below, and then take some time to learn more about these issues. Visit the “Learn the Facts” section on the We Generation, search the Internet, make use of your local library, and talk to your teachers, friends and family.

121 million primary-school aged children are denied the opportunity to attend school. Most of these children are •girls. 218 million children around the world work as child labourers. More than half (126 million, to be exact) work •in hazardous conditions: in mine fields, with chemicals and pesticides, with explosives and with dangerous machinery. An estimated 300,000 boys and girls are exploited by armies during times of conflict, forced to act as soldiers, •sex slaves and servants. Every day, 28,000 children die from poverty-related causes.•

The more educated you are, the more you can teach your peers about these important issues and encourage them to get involved. Remember: education inspires passion, and passion inspires people.

The Vow of SilenceHow-to Guideiamsilent.com

2. Spread the silenceLet everyone know that you’re participating in the Vow of Silence campaign, so that you can start spreading awareness and raising funds—and so that your friends know why you aren’t responding when they say “hello!”

Change your Facebook status.•Change your Facebook profile picture to one of the badges from iamsilent.com.•Put an “I am Silent” banner on your webpage or blog.•Talk to your family and friends about why you’re taking the Vow.•Download posters and other media from the iamsilent.com Spread the Silence page.•

3. Take the VowWhat does it mean to be silent? Being silent can simply mean refraining from speaking out loud. It can also mean cutting yourself off from e-mail, Facebook and text messaging. Or you can take it to the extreme and ban hand gestures, note writing, miming and using sign language. Determine your level of participation based on what you are comfortable with.

This campaign can be done as an individual or as a group working together. You can remain silent for 24 consecutive hours or spend one hour a day in silence for 24 days. However you choose to take the Vow, your silence will speak to the world.

iamsilent.com

4. Make it countBy collecting pledges for donations, you are helping to support Free The Children’s development projects and giving marginalized children around the world hope for a better future.

Ask sponsors to pledge a donation for each hour, minute or second you remain silent, or for the 24-hour period as a whole. A pledge form template is included at the end of this package.

You might also decide to hold an additional fundraising event, like a raffle or a bake sale, to support your campaign. For creative ideas, check out the “Fundraising Guide” on the We Generation website. Your Free The Children youth coordinator is only a phone call or e-mail away if you need help planning your events.

Donations can be made in the form of cheques payable to “Free The Children” and can be sent to:

Free The ChildrenAttn: Youth Programming Department233 Carlton StreetToronto, ONCanada M5A 2L2

Make sure to include a copy of your pledge form so that donors who contribute over $10 can get a tax receipt.

5. Break the silenceNow it’s time to make your voice heard! For the rest of the year, continue to learn about children’s rights and make it your goal to spread awareness to anyone who’s willing to listen. Keep up your amazing efforts, energy and enthusiasm, and never stop believ-ing in your own power to change the world.

If you will be in Toronto on March 6, you are invited to celebrate with Free The Children at the Break the Silence event. Held at MTV’s Masonic Temple, the event will feature MTV Live host Jessi Cruickshank, musician Louise Kent, Free The Children founder and chair Craig Kielburger and more! For more information and to buy tickets, visit MetoWe.com/events/breakthesilence.

If you can’t make it to Toronto, throw your own Break the Silence party! Contact your youth coordinator to order The Spark! Your guide to igniting social change, a comprehensive guide to hosting awareness and fundraising events.

Don’t forget to write to us and let us know all about your event and campaign. We love to hear from you!

iamsilent.com

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