--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The change starts within each one of us…" description: "\"The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when all children are free to be children\" — Craig Kielburger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/craig-kielburger-15650_change_the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us_1365744.jpg" --- # The change starts within each one of us. And ends only… ![“The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when all children are free to be children” quote by Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/craig-kielburger-15650_change_the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us_1365744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/craig-kielburger-15650_change_the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us_1365744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/craig-kielburger-15650_change_the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us_1365744.jpg) > “The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when all children are free to be children” [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Social change begins inside individuals and ends when children can freely be children. **In simple terms:** Change starts within; ends with children’s freedom. Key Takeaway Empower individuals to protect child rights. Themes children human rights activism empowerment Mood inspirational hopeful Type activist humanitarian When to use this quote - schools - NGO programs - community workshops - policy advocacy Key Concepts social justice education psychology Questions to Reflect On - What personal actions can protect child freedom? - How do we measure societal freedom for children? A Different Perspective Changing individuals alone may not alter systemic oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Starts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-starts-271541/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-free-499283/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Ends Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends-children-4687765/) [Free Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-children-765846/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [We learned that kicking down doors to free children from carpet factories isn't enough to stop child labour - we had to tackle the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/we-learned-that-kicking-down-doors-to-free-children-from-carpet/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [Free children are not easily influenced; the absence of fear accounts for this phenomenon. Indeed, the absence of fear is the finest thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-sutherland-neill/free-children-are-not-easily-influenced-the-absence-of-fear-accounts/) [Alexander Sutherland Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-sutherland-neill/) > [“Valda said that if you change your residence every six months you can legally free your children from compulsory education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/valda-said-that-if-you-change-your-residence-every-six-months-you-can/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“No man is free. Only children and fools think elsewise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/no-man-is-free-only-children-and-fools-think-elsewise/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/spirit-that-made-those-heroes-dare-to-die-and-leave-their-children/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“In learning to learn again, we can learn of this wisdom and allow our children (and so ourselves) to become the free, whole individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/in-learning-to-learn-again-we-can-learn-of-this-wisdom-and-allow-our/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Creating a world that is truly fit for children does not imply simply the absence of war... It means having primary schools nearby that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-bellamy/creating-a-world-that-is-truly-fit-for-children-does-not-imply-simply/) [Carol Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-bellamy/) > [I want our children's children to be free to walk safely down the street, girls to attend school, and women to work. I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-carmen/i-want-our-children-s-children-to-be-free-to-walk-safely-down-the/) [Julie Carmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-carmen/) > [In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-my-view-the-christian-religion-is-the-most-important-and-one-of/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [It is my belief that if you have children and you serve overseas, that if you should die, your children should get a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cagle/it-is-my-belief-that-if-you-have-children-and-you-serve-overseas-that/) [Chris Cagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cagle/) > [I invite everyone to question their thoughts about their children and allow their children to be free. That's when we stop teaching our children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-invite-everyone-to-question-their-thoughts-about-their-children-and/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/let-the-children-be-free-encourage-them-let-them-run-outside-when-it/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Guard your children's free time - from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/guard-your-children-s-free-time-from-you/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [It is my pleasure that my children are free and happy, and unrestrained by parental tyranny. Love is the chain whereby to bind a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-my-pleasure-that-my-children-are-free-and-happy-and/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Wrath of the elders is not in thecontrol children how you can get it free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/wrath-of-the-elders-is-not-in-thecontrol-children-how-you-can-get-it/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) ## More by Craig Kielburger > [Some say there is no uniquely Canadian identity, that our multicultural fabric is too varied to establish a common thread. I disagree. My grandfather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/some-say-there-is-no-uniquely-canadian-identity-that-our/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [We've set up groups in schools across North America. They apply and receive a curriculum about different issues facing the world - from environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/we-ve-set-up-groups-in-schools-across-north-america-they-apply-and/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [Despite the value to Canada, our country lags in competitiveness in the global social economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/despite-the-value-to-canada-our-country-lags-in-competitiveness-in/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [Many say that a man comes along with the moral courage of Nelson Mandela once in a lifetime. He was an extraordinary man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/many-say-that-a-man-comes-along-with-the-moral-courage-of-nelson/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [I met children who want to be social workers, lawyers, doctors, community activists and soldiers so they can help their people rise above still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/i-met-children-who-want-to-be-social-workers-lawyers-doctors/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [We want to end poverty and protect our environment. But we think the most efficient way of achieving that is to change the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/we-want-to-end-poverty-and-protect-our-environment-but-we-think-the/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [We would love to see Canadian federal and provincial governments establish a new business entity class like the CIC or L3C for social enterprises.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/we-would-love-to-see-canadian-federal-and-provincial-governments/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [It's easier to be ignorant and say I don't know about the problem. But once you know, once you've seen it in their eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/it-s-easier-to-be-ignorant-and-say-i-don-t-know-about-the-problem-but/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [I feel strongly that Mother Teresa’s life has a great message for young people. We so often feel powerless to do anything about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/i-feel-strongly-that-mother-teresa-s-life-has-a-great-message-for/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [The children of Qunu stood for hours on the side of a brand new stretch of highway as they waited for the hearse carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/the-children-of-qunu-stood-for-hours-on-the-side-of-a-brand-new/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [My own service started when I was 12, with the small charity I launched with 12 friends. Twenty years later, millions have joined our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/my-own-service-started-when-i-was-12-with-the-small-charity-i/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [Peace is a culture that we create by putting it in the curriculum for young people, through creating this next generation where young people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/peace-is-a-culture-that-we-create-by-putting-it-in-the-curriculum-for/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [Success to us is not just a girl overseas going to school - but also leading her village to a better future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/success-to-us-is-not-just-a-girl-overseas-going-to-school-but-also/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [There's no magic bullet to end poverty in the world. But if you could, the closest thing to it would be basic primary education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/there-s-no-magic-bullet-to-end-poverty-in-the-world-but-if-you-could/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [In South Africa, there is only one name that every child knows, every leader invokes, and every grandparent tells their grandchildren about. Madiba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/in-south-africa-there-is-only-one-name-that-every-child-knows-every/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) [Explore all 42 Craig Kielburger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when all children are free to be children", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Craig Kielburger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us-and-ends-only-when-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us-and-ends-only-when-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/craig-kielburger-15650_change_the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us_1365744.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/craig-kielburger-15650_change_the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us_1365744.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/craig-kielburger-15650_change_the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us_1365744.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when all children are free to be children” — Craig Kielburger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Craig Kielburger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The change starts within each one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us-and-ends-only-when-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/the-change-starts-within-each-one-of-us-and-ends-only-when-all/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```