In 2010, Rehana Bhanji, mother of Qais, set out on a mission alongside eight other parents to raise their young children as global citizens. Together they formed the Tiny Transformers, a Toronto-based Tots & Tykes team with World Partnership Walk. “Our team began with a small group of moms who believed in the importance of raising our children with a commitment to give back,” says Rehana. On their first Walk Day as a team, the procession of excited toddlers in strollers and wagons celebrated raising nearly $8,000.
Now in their 10th year, the team has taken incredible strides, raising $599,190.61 – and they have no intention of stopping there. As the Tiny Transformers have grown up, so too has their ambition. For the 35th anniversary of the Walk, the team has set a goal of recruiting 111 team members (that’s 49 more members than last year) and raising at least $111,111.11.
Rehana, like the parents of the other team members, believes their involvement in Walk is a way to instill in their children the values by which they want to live their lives. “When my son was born, it was my deepest desire to raise him to have a spirit of generosity, kindness, and to feel the value and happiness of giving back,” she says. “While every parent may have slightly different dreams for their children, the one common desire for all parents is to ensure their children are good human beings. The Walk gives us another way to show our children through action the importance of caring about humanity.”
Registering her son as a team captain every year has been an easy decision for Rehana: “Children are innately compassionate, caring, and kind. I have seen first-hand how igniting their spirits through regular activities like walking the Walk can help to balance their sense of self with the need to think of others. The proof is in seeing their passion grow over the years, which translates into their desire to do more.”
For other parents supporting their children’s fundraising, Rehana has a few words of advice: “Leverage the opportunity to engage your children. It is through your passion that their hearts are ignited. Help them to see what a little effort fueled by a lot of love can do for both the spirit and the world. There are no big acts, just small acts done with great love.”
Are you interested in getting your children involved in World Partnership Walk? Click here to start a Tots & Tykes Team today!
