Jason Crowe
On May 27, 1992, a mortar shell fell on a group of people standing in a breadline in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Twenty-two men, women, and children were killed. The next day, a man named Vedran Smailovic set his chair down near the blast site and began playing his cello. Smailovic played for twenty-two consecutive days, one for each of his friends and neighbors who had been killed. Bullets flew around him the whole time.
Ten-year-old Jason Crowe was inspired by Smailovic's act of courage. He organized a cello concert in honour of the victims of the mortar attack. He has since organized several other memorials as well. Crowe is currently raising money for a new project called the Children's International Peace-and-Harmony Statue, which he hopes to send to Bosnia as a gift from peace-loving people around the world.
Crowe offers this advice to other youth who want to make a difference in their world:
"I think it's much easier than it looks. If your eyes are open you will see injustices, things that need to be corrected, things that need to be protected, things that need to be beautified, things that need to be cared for.... Also I would say don't be dissuaded. If you believe you can make it happen, don't take 'no' for an answer. Find youth and adults who believe in you and will help you. Try places like 4-H, Scouts and Youth Resources if you want to accomplish something at the local level. Lastly, I would say do what you can one step at a time. Often it is the individual steps we take on the path to the goal that do more good than the goal."
Vedran Smailovic's story has been made into a very inspirational book called "Echoes from the Square." Click on this link if you would like to learn more about the book.