Youth: Universal Children’s Day
For more information, contact Nasserie Carew
Youth Activism Resources
Compiled by Jamie Corbett
Action Without Borders for Kids and Teens
Through Idealist.org, Action Without Borders helps young people find the resources and support they need to help themselves and their communities. Over 45,000 nonprofit organizations from around the world use Idealist.org to list information about the work they do, including their missions, contact information, volunteer opportunities, internships, resources and the services they provide.
Most Valuable Resource: Idealist’s Volunteer Resource Center allows young people to search for volunteer opportunities in their communities and around the world by area of interest or location.
The Freechild Project
The five year-old Freechild Project advocates, informs and celebrates youth-led social change around the world, particularly by those who have historically been denied the right to participate. Freechild trains and consults with individuals and organizations worldwide to connect young people to social change: working to engage young people in critical, democratic action centered on fostering community, culture and society.
Most Valuable Resource: The Youth Issue Database lists more than 50 challenges, concerns and ideas youth identify as important, including community-oriented and youth-centered topics such as illegal child labor, poverty and sustainable agriculture.
Just Cause Research Report: An MTV Report
The 2006 study commissioned by MTV deconstructs how youth perceive "activism" and provides insights on motivating young people to volunteer. The study highlights four key themes: the evolving definition of “community”; the disparity between interest and involvement among youth; youth’s need for direction, encouragement and flexibility; and activation strategies. Read the summary or download the entire report.
Most Valuable Resource: The report’s polished presentation is catchy and its ample statistics and anecdotes are useful for making a case for youth-activism.
Peace Child International
Peace Child International’s publications and conferences are designed to empower young people to take responsibility for peace, human rights and the environment. The U.K.-based organization oversees a network of 500 affiliate groups in 120 countries. Its most successful production to date was a children's edition of Agenda 21, Rescue Mission: Planet Earth, which has sold more than 320,000 copies around the world in 18 languages.
Most Valuable Resource: Nothing For Us Without Us , a 68-page youth-led development starter kit, is available for download from the website. It details practical research, planning, project management and marketing strategies for youth activists.
What Works in Youth Participation: Case Studies From Around the World: An International Youth Foundation Report
The 2002 report is a part of IYF’s “What Works” series. It examines the dilemma of youth participation and provides examples of best practices for youth engagement. Its closing chapter offers practical advice on sustaining youth participation within an organization.
Most Valuable Resource: The report provides a comprehensive look at the benefits of youth-activism as well as the dangers. It also supplies ample anecdotes of ways organizations can creatively engage young people in their efforts.
Youth Activism & Citizenship: A Social Science Research Council Program
The SSRC explores issues relating to youth as citizens, ranging from voting turnout to children and armed conflict. It studies young people's understanding of and engagement with the local, state and global forces that shape their lives, their sense of political efficacy and active citizenship. Their website features a web forum that seeks to foster discussion, debate and analysis on young people as civic and political actors.
Most Valuable Resource: The Youth Activism Research Resources is a directory of more than 40 organizations, institutions and networks geared toward raising awareness and encouraging youth activism.
YouthActionNet: An International Youth Foundation Program
Through its website, essay contest, awards, customized training programs and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, YouthActionNet seeks to empower young people to create positive change in their communities and around the world. Launched in 2001, YouthActionNet is an initiative of the International Youth Foundation, a global nonprofit organization supporting youth development programs in nearly 70 countries.
Most Valuable Resource: YouthActionNet members can create their own websites, launch a campaign, network with other members, and share their work among an ever-widening circle of young social entrepreneurs.
YouthNoise
Launched in the summer of 2006, YouthNoise is a nonprofit social networking site for young people who want to be a force of social change. Content on YouthNoise.com is 100 percent user-generated and covers issues ranging from poverty and humanitarian aid to terrorism. YouthNoise, users discuss social and political issues, increase their global awareness and take action to elicit change.
Most Valuable Resource: Like other social networking sites, YouthNoise allows users to customize their profile by specifying issues, articles or communities of interest to them. Every post includes links to discussion boards, blogs and related resources.
Youth Activism Fundraising and Grant Resources
Ellen Dougherty Activist Fund
The Ellen Dougherty Activist Fund provides grants of up to $2,000 to women 19 and under who propose to develop and lead projects focused on activism and social change.
Peace Child International
Peace Child offers financial support and advice to young people around the world to create and complete a variety of different projects in their communities.
TakingITGlobal
TakingITGlobal offers a database of scholarships, grants, fellowships and awards for young people around the world.
YouthActionNet Awards
Youth Action Net offers $500 Awards for young people working on projects that support social change and helping to connect youth with their local communities.
YouthActionNet Fundraising Toolkit
Youth Action Net’s Fundraising Toolkit offers advice and ideas on how to fund youth-led projects, from putting together a fundraising event and finding local supporters to writing a grant proposal.
