October is National Children’s Month Celebration and as we commemorate this celebration, let us get to know one of the inspiring people I’ve met in life. Kesz Valdes is not a person who got extraordinary powers like Super Man or BatMan, but you could also say that. Instead of powers, he has an extraordinarily big heart for the children and the community.
Reading his story through different articles made me feel so inspired that I had to invite him to one of the talks we organized back when I was in the University. But when he talked, all the more I was inspired. He doesn’t use any jargons or shared any techniques just as what most motivational speaker would but he spoke of his learning. He spoke of his experiences. And that what made it so special and touching that I am sure people who listened to him, felt him.
As most people would know, Kesz used to be a street children. Being in a problematic family, he had been battered by his father, thus he decided to run away. At young age, he lived alone. At young age, he tried to survive.
Blessed, a man named Mr. Harnin (who happened to be Efren’s mentor as well) found him. He was cared for and loved. Perhaps, things he didn’t feel before. Strangers cured his wounds, bathed him and clothed him. They fed him and made him feel like he is a family. Indeed, he is a family.
It was through the compassion of these people that he was healed from the brokenness he felt at a young age. It was also through this compassion that he felt compassion for others.
Armored with the same love for the other street children and children alike, he founded the Championing Community Children. They give out shoe box which contains learning materials to the kids and also, they treat their wounds and educate them about their rights. And because of this, he was the first South East Asian awarded the prestigious International Children Peace Prize.
This young man at a young age may be regarded as a kid but perhaps he did more to the community than most of us.And like what he says “We can change the world, one child at a time.”
To know more about his story, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQDv62yQ_t0
To know more about his advocay, follow this: https://www.facebook.com/c3champs/?pnref=lhc
To know more about him, follow him: https://www.facebook.com/kesziam/?fref=ts
