National Volunteer Week kicks off from April 19-25 and this year’s theme is “Celebrating People in Action.” The theme is geared to honor individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solve problems in their own communities.

Bilaal Rajan is a 12-year-old boy who has made it his goal to raise as much money as he can for UNICEF, which then sparked major corporations to make generous donations of medicine, food and other aid. He has basically started a movement to seriously help others and has so far raised over $5 million for various causes and is the youngest Ambassador ever for UNICEF, worldwide. To empower his peers and explain his efforts, he has also just released a new book “Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever.” Bilaal is also dedicated to National Volunteer Week.”

Bilaal is kicking off National Volunteer Week by living without shoes for the entire week, called the Barefoot Challenge. With the saying “You never really know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes,” Bilaal is going barefoot to better understand the struggles faced by underprivileged children in developing countries. Since many of these children cannot afford shoes, let alone attend schools or even know where there next meal is coming from. Bilaal is urging everyone to spend at least one-hour bare feet any day during International Volunteer Week. “Go Bare Feet with Bilaal and Make Change – One Step At A Time.”

I have not done anything this year to help or promote a charity, but I find this effort moving and I am going to try. I wish I could do more to help and give money and my time, but I think at least this is a start.