Acting for the change you want to see - 3 resources to start the journey
Advocacy is about standing up for something or someone you care about. It is about "acting", not only "being" the change you want to see in the world. Like anything, you can get better at it.
When it comes to young people, we should encourage and support them in building their advocacy skills (which is really about empowering their VOICE, one of the four elements of "meaningful participation" in the Lundy model).
There are so many skills linked to (or part of) advocacy skills - from assertiveness, listening and negotiation skills, to research skills, communication, critical thinking and leadership.
Here are 3 resources that provide a starting point and outline the journey to becoming a better change-maker.
Structured around 4 pillars (Strengthening your advocacy, Self-care as an advocate, Being a better communicator, Advocating together), the hub contains short, practical articles, tips and working sheets.
Key resources here are the UNICEF Youth Advocacy Guide (created in 2018 and revised in 2022, available in EN, FR and ES) and the accompanying Training Materials (for trainers and those working with young people).
Developed by the European Youth Forum , the course aims to enable young people to become more effective change-makers.
This is a crash course based on a 50-minute video, a worksheet and interaction with a partner. It helps one discover new actions, which would benefit the cause they believe in.
Have you used any of these resources yourself? What other advocacy resources do you recommend?