In Memory of Iqbal

from the "Me to We" files

Picture one small boy, 

sold by his parents 

at age four for $16,

chained to a loom
fourteen hours a day

from age four to ten,

in order to "repay the debt".

Picture him escaping, 

being recaptured,

hung upside down for punishment,

then chained back to his loom.

Iqbal was heroic.
He escaped again,

his activism and speaking out

saving thousands of other children 

from his fate.

He lost his life at twelve,

they say for

speaking about the rights of children

to have a childhood.

Iqbal's life and death

sparked the heart of a boy his age

across the sea,

who began the movement called
From Me to We.

And we'll remember you, Iqbal,
for eternity.

Free the Children was begun by young Canadian Craig Kielburger when he was twelve, after reading about Iqbal in the newspaper. Craig began a movement against child slavery called Free the Children with eleven of his middle school friends. Craig is a young man now, and he and his brother run the international organization and continue their work, which includes hosting an annual televised marathon to inspire other young people to join the movement. It is called From "Me" to "We".

The story of Iqbal can be read here.

for Susan's prompt at Mid Week Motif: Boycott