Carleton’s senate awarded honorary doctorate degrees to several notable Canadians in June, including the youngest recipients ever, Craig and Marc Kielberger, according to university media representative Chris Cline.
Craig, 29, founded the international development charity Free The Children when he was 12 years-old. Kielberger was inspired to start the organization after reading a story in the Toronto Star about a murdered 12 year-old who had been a child labourer since he was four, according to Free The Children’s website.
His brother Marc, 36, was also involved in the founding and continuation of the organization.
Craig said receiving an honorary degree is an “extraordinary honour.”
“Education is really the cornerstone of our international development model,” he said. “Education is something that’s so important to the work we do, and something that we so greatly honour and treasure.”
Craig also holds a Peace and Conflict Studies degree from the University of Toronto, and executive masters of business administration from York University’s Schulich School of Business.
Craig said he hopes being the youngest recipient of the honorary degree sends a message to the class of 2012. “I hope it underscores that we’re never too young to make our impact in the world,“ he said.
He said Free The Children has worked with several Carleton students, particularly with international service trips.
Craig also praised Carleton’s international business program, whose first round of graduates are receiving diplomas this year. He said the program is helpful for those wanting to do work similar international development work.
“It’s not just the question of having the intention to do good, but also the skills, and the training to ensure that intention is grounded in effective action and effective leadership,” he said. “I’m really an admirer of the leadership that’s emerging from [the program]. It’s unprecedented in Canada.”
Cline said in an email that the university was “honoured” to present the Kielbergers with Doctors of Laws.
“Craig and Marc Kielberger have shown exemplary leadership in the promotion of rights of the child, ethical living and social responsibility,” he said.
Honorary degrees were also awarded to politician and Aboriginal activist Elijah Harper, engineer and astronaut Julie Payette, and fiction writer Elizabeth Hay, among others.
Kielberger said he hopes after receiving the award, himself and Free The Children will strengthen their involvement with Carleton.
“We hope to spend more time at Carleton, and we hope to get more students involved as volunteers,” Craig said. “We certainly won’t be strangers to the university.”
