Discover the little ones who became great leaders
How do little kids grow up to become inspiring leaders?
Everyone, from Nelson Mandela to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was once a small child learning about the world. Read how a diverse array of kids discovered what they were passionate about, worked hard, and followed their dreams to make a positive difference as adults.
Here are 3 people that grew up to be great leaders from the book When I Grow Up - Great Leaders (aimed at 3 - 5 year olds).
 | Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |
... became Africa’s first woman president
As a young girl, Ellen learned a speech to make at church. But when she got there, she forgot what to say! She decided she would never fail at public speaking again.
When she grew up, she became President of Liberia and made many inspiring speeches. After fourteen years of war, she helped rebuild the country and made it a safer place.
Ellen proved that women can lead and inspire change. In 2011 she won the Nobel Peace Prize – a special award given to people who work hard for world peace.
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 | Nelson Mandela |
... became the greatest leader of South Africa
Nelson was the first person in his family to go to school. He had to borrow his father’s trousers because he had no suitable clothes! As he grew up, he saw how unfair things were for black people.
As an adult, he went to prison for standing up for his belief that black people deserved the same rights as white people. When he was finally released after 27 years, he was given a hero’s welcome!
Nelson went on to become the first black President of South Africa. He had been through difficult times, but his courage helped give other black South Africans the same rights as white South Africans.
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 | Martin Luther King |
... wanted people to be treated fairly
When Martin was a young boy, he and his father were told to go to the back of a shoe shop because they were black. Martin’s father thought this was unfair and they left the shop.
Unlike white people, black people weren’t allowed to sit at the front of buses. So when Martin grew up, he organised a protest in Montgomery, USA, where lots of people stopped using the buses until the rule was changed.
Martin made a famous speech called “I Have a Dream”. It was about white and black people living together in peace, as equals. His leadership led to fairer treatment of black people.
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