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He’s all heart
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
Just a precocious eight-year-old. These are the impressions on first meeting Bilaal Rajan from Canada. But as he asks: "Why shouldn't all kids all around the world not have what the kids in Canada have and take for granted?" and goes on to say, "It's not fair - some are very rich, others very poor. The world should be equal. All people need to be equal", there comes the feeling that he is not just any eight-year-old.

Bilaal is a diminutive little guy with a wide smile who has mobilized children across Canada to raise $2 million for children affected by the tsunami in Southeast Asia including Sri Lanka. He was still not satisfied and wanted to do more -- to visit the devastated countries and show the people, especially the children, that he cares.

That's what he did last week, on a whistle-stop tour of the south, right from Hambantota through Galle to Colombo."No I am not tired," he says sipping water from a bottle, perky and cheerful as ever when The Sunday Times met him on Tuesday, before he flew out to Indonesia on the last lap of his tsunami tour with his parents, mother Shamim and father Aman, before heading for home in Toronto. Before Sri Lanka, it was Thailand and Maldives.

Bilaal says he joined the children in the shelters for a full day of music, games and art. "It calmed them down. It took away the fear of the tsunami. It looked like they forgot everything about the tsunami," he explains.

What are his "images" of the south?
With palm to chin, he takes a second to think. "What water can do in a short period of time? Really sad. Everything around me was gone. Destroyed," he says. "A lot of debris, foundations only left of houses. Lot of hard work too. People rebuilding boats near the beach. Building their huts by themselves. They are not alone, the UN is helping them. UNICEF has given hygiene kits and also recreational kits."

What led Bilaal to think about others and get involved in charity work? "We are Ismaili Muslims from Africa who went to Canada about 20 years ago," says Bilaal's mother, Shamim, explaining that their ancestors were from India. Bilaal's life changed forever when he saw an appeal for help soon after a massive earthquake hit Gujarat in India in 2001. It was four years ago and he was only four.

"I sold Clementines (mini oranges) in my neighbourhood for a $1," says Bilaal, adding with a mischievous smile, "It was a rip-off." It was, of course, for a worthy cause and the adults who bought them did not mind. He has also taken part in the World Partnership Walk of the Aga Khan Foundation, for three years raising $1,000 each year.

Bilaal's involvement with UNICEF began after tropical storms hit Haiti and he saw an advertisement seeking help for children there. His parents suggested he give his allowance but he raised $6,000 by selling cookies donated by his father's company.

He was actively participating in other UNICEF campaigns to raise money for needy children around the world, when the tsunami struck Southeast Asia leaving a trail of death and destruction. Bilaal was returning from his winter vacation when he heard about the tsunami on the radio. Next day he saw the pictures of the devastation in the newspapers and told his parents he wanted to help. "But my Dad was not sure because I had gone through Haiti and helping children affected by HIV/AIDS. He said I'd done a lot and asked me whether I don't want to rest," he says.

Then Bilaal had to decide - "whether I was going to stay here (in Canada) and use my brain or go to Southeast Asia and use my arms," he laughs explaining that he would have to use his arms to help rebuild homes. It was on New Year's eve that Bilaal launched the 'Canada Kids Earthquake Challenge' with a personal pledge of $10,000 to encourage every child to raise $100 for UNICEF Canada's Indian Ocean Earthquake Appeal.

Up to now UNICEF Canada's appeal has collected $16 million, a UNICEF spokeswoman in Colombo said.
On Bilaal's part he has personally raised $50,000 making beautiful multi-coloured plates at home and selling them to holiday shoppers.

Doesn't it affect his schoolwork? Bilaal who is a student at Giles school, a private French school in Toronto, is quick to reply: "I do it in my spare time, on the plane, in the hotels."
So did he build homes for the tsunami survivors? "No," he says, adding he played with the children to show them he cares and he learnt a new sport.

"Cricket. It's a mix of baseball and golf," he says quickly getting into the batsman’s stance. "I scored three 4s."
Assuring that he will share his experiences with children back home, he leaves behind this message:

"You may not think you'll reach it - but climb it anyway
You may not think anyone will hear - but speak it anyway
You may not think you can change anything - but try it anyway.
Remember together we can make a difference."

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