Published by Senator Roméo Dallaire on 13 May 2008
On May 1st, 2008, I addressed, via videoconference, about 150 students from St. Andrew’s secondary school in High Prairie, Alberta.
I took advantage of this opportunity to invite them, as citizens of a leading middle power such as ours, to get involved in non-profit and humanitarian organizations that work for those in need.
I told the students about the difficult reality child soldiers and more than 2.5 million refugees face due to the armed conflict in Darfur. Among other things, I reminded them of the important role played by young people in promoting change in their community and elsewhere in the world through their democratic society.
A few days later, several of them wrote to me to tell me about the ideas and conversations they had resulting from the event.
I realized that these teenagers were preparing themselves for becoming conscious and responsible global citizens.
Having given many presentations as a Senator, it is always gratifying for me to see our young people really interested in issues of human rights.
LGen the Hon. Roméo A. Dallaire, (Ret’d), Senator