Teaching Brisbane High Schools Valuable Activism Skills

Recently, our founder Tiyana J was asked to organise a series of workshops in partnership with Amnesty International QLD/NNSW and Brisbane Boys College, for the Amnesty QLD Schools Conference. All of the participants were member’s of their high school’s Amnesty International club, and Tiyana was tasked with organising a range of workshops that would teach the students practical activism skills.

After introducing the students to the goal of activism, which is typically to create formal systemic change, as well as the other areas of our theory of change framework and how activism can create those types of change, the students were split into three groups and rotated through three activities. The workshops focused on practical skills that young people can use in their activism with Amnesty and beyond, covering letter writing skills, having conversations for change, and social media for social change.

Letter writing

In today’s world, human rights activists have many different tools at their disposal to help advance their cause. One of the most important, and often underrated, tools is letter writing.

When done correctly, letter writing can be an extremely effective way to raise awareness about human rights issues, put pressure on decision makers, and mobilize public support. It can also be a very personal way to connect with other activists and build relationships.

For these reasons, it is essential that human rights activists learn how to write effective letters. The good news is that with a little practice, anyone can become a skilled letter writer. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1) Keep it focused: When writing a letter on behalf of a human rights issue, it is important to stay on topic and make your point as clearly and concisely as possible. Stick to the facts and avoid getting sidetracked into unrelated topics.

2) Be polite: Even if you are angry about a human rights violation, it is important to remain polite in your letter. This will make it more likely that your letter will be taken seriously and received favorably by the recipient.

3) Personalize it: A letter that is addressed to a specific person and includes a personal story or anecdote is more likely to be read and remembered than a generic form letter. If you have a personal connection to the issue you are writing about, be sure to mention it in your letter.

4) Use strong language: To really grab attention, use strong language in your letter. Describe the human rights violation in vivid detail and evoke emotions such as anger, compassion, or outrage in your reader.

5) Call for action: Always include a call to action at the end of your letter. Tell the recipient what you want them to do (e.g., sign a petition, write their own letter, etc.) and provide instructions on how they can do it.

Social Media

Social media has become an important tool in human rights activism. It allows activists to connect with each other and share information quickly and easily. It also makes it possible for activists to reach a wider audience with their message. And, importantly, it gives a voice to people who might not otherwise have one. For example, social media was used extensively during the Arab Spring uprisings. Activists used platforms like Facebook and Twitter to organizing protests and spreading information about what was happening. This helped to bring international attention to the situation and ultimately helped to bring about change. Similarly, social media is being used by activists today to shine a light on human rights abuses around the world. It is playing a vital role in bringing about awareness and helping to create change.

Conversations for Change

Conversation skills are important in human rights activism for many reasons. First, conversation is how people learn about and process information. In order to be effective activists, we need to be able to have conversations with people about the human rights issues that matter to us. Secondly, conversation skills help us build relationships with others. Relationship-building is a crucial part of activism, because it allows us to develop trust and understanding with those we are trying to help or persuade. Finally, conversation skills give us the ability to share our own experiences and stories. Our personal stories are often some of the most powerful tools we have in convincing others of the importance of human rights. By honing our conversation skills, we can become more effective activists and make a real difference in the world.