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Kim Plewes

Kim Plewes is living proof that being young can be a powerful thing.

Passionate about child labor and the plight of children around the world, Kim started her advocacy work at the age of 12, collecting over 6,000 signatures for her first petition and presenting it to the Canadian Parliament. A short time later Kim began working with the newly founded international development organization, Free The Children, and was instrumental in implementing an array of early projects and programs. Kim initiated and facilitated the Life in Action program and helped launch Free The Children's first U.S. office in California.

After the loss of both her father and her best friend, Kim embarked on a series of international volunteer experiences that changed her life forever. Drawing on these deeply personal experiences, Kim uses her powerful gift of storytelling to honour the many people she has encountered on her travels: youth living on the streets in Haiti, Kenyan children who have never attended school and young people who live and work in the garbage dumps of Jamaica and Nicaragua.

Kim travels all over the world sharing Free The Children's message. From Harvard University to the Hong Kong International School, from Scandinavia to the Middle East, Kim has spoken at a wide variety of international events including the Youth Speak We Listen International Peace Conference and the World Children's Prize national speaking tour.

Balancing her commitments to Free The Children and other local and international organizations, while completing a degree in international studies at American University in Washington D.C., Kim lives her life by the beautiful words of Julia Butterfly Hill: I wake up in the morning asking myself, 'What can I do today? How can I help the world today?' I believe in what I do beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Topics of discussion

  • BE THE CHANGE: ANSWERING THE CALL TO LIFELONG ACTIVISM
  • CHARACTER BUILDING: EMPATHY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY
  • PEACE BUILDING

Kim is ideal for

Women's/Girls' Groups, Educators, Student Leadership, College/University Students, Non-Profit, Corporate, Family

Book Kim

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Testimonials

  • "Kim was exceptional in every way. The way that she is able to communicate such important messages to elementary school-aged kids was extraordinary. I really cannot say enough about her. As always, Free The Children has far exceeded any and all expectations."

    - Lynda, Parent, Ottawa, ON

  • "Kim was amazing and we all–including the supervising teachers–are in awe of her accomplishments at such a young age. As well, she had the audience totally engaged with her presentation."

    - Dorothy Davis, Vice-Principal and Director of Admissions, University of Toronto Schools, Toronto, ON

  • "What a wonderful speaker and human being Kim is. Our students and educators have been inspired by her experiences, perspective and talk. I am certain only good things will come from it. I'm so pleased that Kim was able to be part of our day."

    - Doriana Rosati, Learning Coordinator, Thames Valley District School Board, London, ON

  • "Kim's presentation was well received. The young people on my planning committee said that she was very informative and really got them thinking."

    - Lisa Hampton, 4-H National Headquarters

  • "She so eloquently shares her stories of mission work through FTC that you cannot help but be in awe and motivated to be a part of their mission."

    - Karen Moyer, Co-founder of the Moyer Foundation

  • "The word 'perfect' is overused, but in this case it definitely applies! Kim's articulate, beautifully sequenced, engaging presentation certainly equals that of the masters, Craig and Marc. Thank you for sending her to us. Kim herself is one of the Free The Children marvels–an extraordinary young lady, modest about her achievements but so committed, and it will be inspiring to watch her move through the next decades of her life, making meaningful contributions wherever she goes."

    - Barbara Pontecorvo, Parent, Boston, MA

  • "Kim's talk energized our school community in a way I've never seen before, and she provided wonderful ideas and some much needed structure for the activities we had planned."

    - Kevin Lum Lung, College Counselor, The Harker School

Public Speaking Events

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