Youth Activism

Set up an Amnesty Club at your school. Youth and student groups are found at all levels nationwide. We provide the tools and supports to get you started. It’s easy!

How To:

How to Fundraise

Amnesty International accepts no government funding in order to remain impartial, which means all of our work is sponsored by our members and donors. Try to involve fundraising in everything you do — all of your efforts will help us continue conducting research and coordinating activism!

Raising money isn’t only incredibly important to make sure we exist to keep campaigning for human rights – it can also be lots of fun! Plus, planning your budget can save you a LOT of time later on. Here are a few simple questions to help you get started.

Why Do We Have to Raise Money?

The money we raise goes towards:

The letters you mail
The newsletters, campaign packages, and more that is sent to you
Researching the cases that we take on as an organization

How Much Do We Need to Raise?

This depends on how large and how active your group is. Existing groups might have an old budget that can give you an idea of operating expenses. If you’re just starting out, here are some things to include:

MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION

We encourage groups and clubs to donate at least $50 each year to help pay for postage, printing and development, and all the excellent support you receive from AI Canada.

POSTAGE

Mailing letters can add up, especially for very active groups or members. Keep that in mind!

MEETING COSTS

Is there a rental cost for the place where you hold your meetings? Do you serve snacks or use audiovisual equipment? Take the cost of an average meeting an multiply it by the number of meetings you expect to have, with a little bit extra for any major annual meetings you hold.

PUBLICITY

This might include photocopying and printing costs for things like newsletters, flyers, and posters.

SPECIAL ACTIONS & EVENTS

This includes the cost of all the “props” you’ll need (signs, placards, posters) and any other costs like rentals or refreshments.

RESOURCES

You can obtain many resources for free from the Amnesty National Office, just ask! However, there may be posters, videos, or other materials that you need to buy on your own.

TRAVEL

Will you send members to conferences to meetings, such as AI Canada’s Human Rights College or the Annual General Meeting? Or will you bring speakers to talk to your group at an event? You’ll need to think about travel expenses.

VOLUNTEER/MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION

At the end of the semester or year, you may wish to thank your members and volunteers for all of their hard work, as well as celebrate your group’s successes.

What Resources Do You Already Have?

MATERIALS

Access to free meeting spaces? Art supplies? A photocopier? Funding from your student council/union?

HUMAN

What are your strengths and abilities? (eg. If you have a member who is a great baker, host a bake sale!)

NETWORK

What relationships do you have with other people and organizations? Do you have helpful connections — business people, entertainers, politicians, other activists or clubs?

How to make your group work

Facilitation

Be aware of people’s feelings.

Pay attention to how individuals are doing — they may not admit to being uncomfortable or angry — and respond appropriately.

Be aware of the group’s feelings.

Work out the group’s dynamics and facilitate appropriately. Who’s present? How do they act around one another? Are they eager, restless, enthusiastic, or silly?

Listen.

Hear what and how things are being said by group members. The best facilitators speak less than others and will often repeat, sum up, or respond directly to what other people have said.

Be tactful.

You might need to act on or speak about something uncomfortable, and the ability to do so carefully and kindly is critical. Human rights issues can evoke strong feelings. Be respectful.

Collaborate.

It may feel inefficient at first, but collaborative groups are much more empowered and productive. Make an effort to share the facilitation with other group members!

Have a sense of timing.

Know when to end a discussion, let a conversation continue, or change the topic. Don’t be afraid of silence — let people think before they respond.

Have a sense of humour.

You should be able to appreciate life’s ironies, laugh at yourself, and share the laughter of others to make the experience better for everyone.

Be flexible.

Planning is important, but so is being willing to change your plans. Sometimes meetings can go in an unforeseen direction and you might need to reconsider what you have time to talk about.

Be resourceful and creative.

Every group is different. You need to set goals, but you may need to adapt to changing skills and opportunities. Use the talents of those around you! If you have someone who is great with social media in your group, you won’t need to manage your Facebook page alone.

Follow through.

Don’t forget about the goals, decisions, or action plans you make at each meeting. Ensure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities. Provide guidance and realize that delegating work is key to working on a team.

Empowering Others

Recruitment: finding new members

Connect with youth & students.

Introduce your group to schools in the area by attending parents & family meetings, getting in touch with teachers, and visiting classrooms.

Find other groups & clubs.

Invite other community and school groups in the area to join your activities or events. Send your group members out to attend local community/school group meetings.

Bring your friends.

Host a group social event, to which each member brings along at least one guest. Tell your pals all about your Amnesty group

Host events.

Host a variety of events to target different demographics. Hold film nights, demonstrations, booths, guest speakers, and more.

Use Amnesty.

Put your group’s details on the Amnesty International Canada website. If you’re a group from a post-secondary school, send us an email and we’ll put you on the map: youth@amnesty.ca.

Advertise.

Look for opportunities to advertise your group online, and place notices on community boards. Include your name, one sentence to describe your activities, and where/when you meet.

Use the media.

Place a free advertisement in the community news section of your local or school newspaper and include information about any events your group is organizing or participating in.

Social media.

Make sure that your group has an active social media presence! This is the best way to share information and attract members. See the “How to: Social Media” guide for more.

Categorize.

Compile a list of groups near you and how they could be involved in or support your work. Tradespeople, politicians, media, unions, religious organizations, local businesses, schools, etc.

Have a contact list.

Encourage people to join your contact list when they attend a group event, visit a booth, or sign a petition. Follow up with an email inviting them to your next meeting.

Retention: keeping new members

Welcome people.

When someone new arrives to your group, make sure to welcome and talk to them — don’t ignore them.

Be a mentor.

Allocate a buddy or mentor for each new member to help explain things and make sure they are comfortable.

Bring a friend.

Word of mouth and encouragement are the most effective ways of involving people. Bring a family member, neighbour, friend, etc.

Give members something to do.

Divide up tasks amongst members. If you’re working on something, try to include someone who has not done that particular task before.

Create small working groups.

These groups can work on particular jobs and report back to the main meeting. New members should be invited to join the sub-group they’re most interested in.

Reassess your priorities.

Regularly reflect on the practicalities of your meetings. Think about goals, focus areas, logistics (the location and time of meetings). What do your group members think?

Give background information.

Take the time to provide overviews of issues, especially if new members are present. A brief review from time to time can refresh people’s memory.

Bring in guest speakers.

Ask others to come to meetings or events! They may be Amnesty International activists, human rights experts, or local group members with human rights concerns.

Acknowledge good work.

Thank people when they do something well or show initiative. People like to feel appreciated.

Remember good news stories.

Acknowledge and celebrate your successes. Create posters or newsletters to show existing, new, and potential members the impact you have made on human rights.

How to Make your group last

Need an Advisor?

High school groups should make sure they have an advisor lined up for the new school year, especially if your current advisor might be moving to a new school.

Pass the Torch

Will your main contact person be changing in September? Update your group information know so that we send any mailings to the proper address! It’s also important to make sure new leaders will have access to old files, contact lists, and any other resources (including posters or banners) that your group has.

Review Past Work

What were your successes this year? What were your challenges? Can any of your past activities become annual events? Discuss how to overcome some of the problems you faced, and brainstorm for what you would like to achieve next year.

Pave the Way for New Members

How will you attract new members next year? Think about planning your first meeting and how you will make it easier for people to be involved if they’re new. Try to recruit members of different ages to avoid graduating all at once!

Do Some Ground Work

Are there major campaigns or projects, such as the Write for Rights campaign, that your group will want to participate in? How will you take it on? In what ways will you aim to boost Amnesty’s presence at your school, on your campus, or in your community? Try not to plan everything in advance so that you have a chance to hear what new members will have to say, too. They will bring new ideas and skills into your group.

Getting ready for the Summer

Not every group shuts down over the summer. This could be a great time to:

Host an event before people leave, or with those sticking around for the summer. Maybe a Taste for Justice event, or a potluck?
Are there festivals or summer events coming to town that you can table at? Have you considered setting up an Amnesty café and handing out materials?
Are there conferences taking place at local colleges or universities that you can set up a display at?
Join other local Amnesty groups in their summer campaigning. Give us a shout if you need help finding them!

Staying in the loop

Don’t want to miss out on what’s happening with human rights? Keep up-to-date by:

Visiting the Youth & Student Program website
Sign up for the Youth & Student E-newsletter
Join the Individual Youth Program — especially if you’re not continuing with your
Amnesty group. For $15 a year, you’ll hear about human rights first. Amnesty’s latest
actions, online petitions, contests, and campaigns will start with you. Email us at
youth@amnesty.ca or call 613-744-7667 to sign up.

After you graduate

Whether you will be graduating from secondary or post-secondary school, your transition period can be an exciting and busy time. The support you’ve given to Amnesty International doesn’t have to end with graduation — we still need you! Here are a few ways to continue on your journey as a human rights defender:

Continue your Activism as a Young Professional

Are you interested in connecting with other young professionals about your passion for human rights? Let us know and we can put you in touch!

Join the Urgent Action Network

When someone’s immediate safety is at risk, we turn to the Urgent Action Network (UAN). UAN participants send urgent faxes, letters, and emails to authorities around the globe. To join, email urgentaction@amnesty.ca (include your name, mailing address, and how often you’d like us to send you Urgent Actions).

Become an Individual Youth Activist

Continue as an individual supporter of Amnesty and we’ll help you keep taking a stand for human rights. You’ll receive a personal welcome kit, opportunities to take action, regular updates, and our Activist magazine, along with a say in the future of Amnesty.

Volunteer at an Amnesty Office

If you’re interested in volunteering, let us know and we’ll connect you with the Activism Coordinator in your area to discuss your options.

Build your resume

Your experience with Amnesty can not only create change on the ground, but it can also help you develop skills which will help you as you carry on in your career, within or beyond the field of human rights. This might include:

KNOWLEDGE

Being a conscious global citizen.

ORGANIZATION

Managing events teaches you how to handle logistics.

LEADERSHIP

Plenty of opportunities to lead beyond your group.

COMMUNICATION

Learn to communicate with others, no matter who they are.

NETWORKING

Meet new people and learn from them.

MARKETING

Advertising events on the ground and through social media is useful to know.

How to: Amnesty Presentations

Asking your teacher for a few minutes before class begins to give a presentation on Amnesty International is a great way to get people involved in your group.

Things You Should Include in Your Speech

Human Rights

What are human rights? Give examples. They are inalienable, indivisible, and interdependent
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights — its history, meaning, and what it contains
Other examples of human rights documents (Convention Against Torture, Convention on the Rights of a Child)
Commitment of governments to respect human rights

Human Rights Abuses

How do governments violate human rights?
How do non-state actors violate human rights?

Amnesty International

History
Mandate
How we function
Our characteristics: effective, impartial, diverse, unrelenting, independent, democratic, self-governing, accurate, and reliable

Personal Empowerment

Can one person make a difference
Does Amnesty work?
How will joining Amnesty contribute to human rights work?
Take Action Challenge: bring out a current Amnesty action or petition

Get Noticed

Need more visibility? Tag us in your posts so we can see your work! You can also use the hashtags #AmnestyAction, and #YouthPowerAction to show the global Amnesty community how your group is defending human rights.

Connecting with Amnesty International Canada

@AmnestyCanada

Stay updated on national and international events while connecting with other Amnesty members by joining our growing community on Facebook! Search for the group nearest to you, too — for example, the Amnesty International Toronto Organization and Amnesty International Saskatchewan have their own pages.

@AmnestyNow

Check our Twitter for events happening across Canada as well as news and action opportunities. Retweet what we’re saying or tweet your own messages to support our campaigns and broadcast your activism. Use the hashtag #YouthPowerAction for a chance to be featured on our website!

Amnesty International Canada

If you need videos for presentations, tabling, or posting online, then visit our YouTube account. Set up a laptop at a group meeting or an event and share an educational clip on a human rights case or specific campaign you’re working on.

@AmnestyCanada

Follow us on Instagram and start an account for your group, too. It’s perfect for sharing photos and videos of your group’s activities. Plus, the “stories” feature makes it easy to advertise your events and campaign work as it happens! Follow similar organizations on campus or in your city so they can see what you’re doing, too.

@AICanada

Our Flickr account is full of photos from Amnesty events and actions across Canada — from rallies and marches to creative campaign activities. These images are a powerful tool to bring your activism to life. You can browse galleries for inspiration, download photos to share on your group’s social media, or use them in presentations, posters, newsletters, or tabling displays.

@Amnesty.ca

Join the conversation on Bluesky by following Amnesty Canada and using the platform to share short, powerful updates about human rights. Post action alerts, amplify urgent calls for solidarity, and use hashtags to connect with activists across Canada and around the world. Bluesky is a great space for sparking dialogue, building momentum for campaigns, and showing your group’s solidarity in real time.

@AmnestyCanada

Follow @AmnestyCanada on TikTok and use your group’s account to create engaging short videos about your activism. Whether it’s clips from protests, quick explainers on human rights issues, or creative campaigns to mobilize action, TikTok is the perfect platform to reach new audiences. Jump on trending sounds and hashtags to spread awareness, and don’t forget to share updates on how people can get involved with Amnesty’s work.

Amnesty International Canada

Connect with Amnesty International Canada on LinkedIn to stay informed about our professional opportunities, thought leadership, and advocacy at a policy level. Share Amnesty’s reports, campaigns, and events on your own profile to raise awareness among your networks. LinkedIn is also an excellent place to highlight your volunteer or activism experience with Amnesty — helping to inspire others to take action while building your own human rights profile.

As a group, you should use Facebook to:

Post links to online protests
Create and promote events
Post articles, pictures, and anything else that shows off your activism
Livestream guest speakers or events
Keep in contact with your other group members and coordinate your activities/discussions

Blogging

How about writing a blog on our website? We post about volunteer opportunities, great events for your age group, information on what Amnesty is up to, and more! It’s written for Amnesty’s youth and sometimes by Amnesty’s youth. If you’re interested in writing an article for our blog about something your group has done or is really passionate about, give us a shout at youth@amnesty.ca.

How to take action

Plan Your Year

START WITH A BASIC FRAMEWORK
- What worked well last year? What didn’t?
- Pick some key activities you’d like to do over the year and advertise it at your first meeting.
FIND OUT ABOUT THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGNS
- Check your September mailing or visit the Amnesty Canada website for a list
- Outline the major actions happening this year and the materials available for them
FIND OUT WHAT YOUR GROUP IS INTERESTED IN
- Are there certain upcoming actions that really excite members of your group?
- Are there certain days that your group feels are important to mark (eg. International Human Rights Day on December 10th or International Women’s Day on March 8th)? Visit the United Nations website for a list of international days they observe
COLLABORATE IDEAS TO BUILD A PLAN.
- What are the interests, abilities, and talents of the people joining your group?
- Brainstorm ideas for your group’s work and priorities
- Narrow down these ideas to match the interest, abilities, and talents you have
- Assign roles and tasks and set realistic timelines and workloads. Make sure people can say that they have too much on their plate without feeling guilty.
MAP IT OUT
- Draft a plan for your group’s activities and mark it on a calendar to see how they fit.
- Don’t forget to include the dates of exams, holidays, and other busy times.

Organize Events

Now that you know which campaigns your group wants to join, it’s time to think about the events and activities you will host in your community. Make a checklist to track the following:

The country or issue your group will be focusing on for this event (for example, the No More Stolen Sisters campaign)
The date your group has decided on for the event as well as any dates you will need to meet and plan the activity together
The goals of the activity: is the main point of this to raise money, collect signatures, or a combination?
Ideas for activities: what will your participants do? How will you make it exciting? What will make people want to attend?
Key steps for the activity: make a timeline! Set deadlines for your preparations so that everything runs smoothly and on schedule
Your priority activities: what do you need to do to before your event? This may involve bookings, submit-ting permission forms, publicity, contacting individuals or businesses, and more
Person(s) responsible: who will be in charge of volunteer recruitment, booking the venue, marketing, and so on?
Materials required: what will you need to make the event happen? Think about the supplies you will need to buy, stuff you may have to make (eg. banners or signs), or other essentials (eg. audiovisual equipment)
Don’t forget to take notes and evaluate so that you can make your next event an even greater success!

Letter-Writing

Give the facts.

Use as much information as possible (dates, places, names). Also, cite the article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) or other convention that has been violated.

Follow Amnesty guidelines.

Our letter-writing actions give recommendations or requests to be made of the recipient — follow these exactly! Don’t ask for things that aren’t included.

Be brief.

Keep it simple! Don’t write more than one page (one side of paper).

Be courteous and respectful.

The key to success is to remain impartial. Avoid reference to religious beliefs or political ideologies and refer to the UDHR or other international documents instead.

Make it personal.

Write in your own words and give an idea of who you are (i.e. high school or university student) to in-dicate that your letter is genuine. If you’re talking about a specific person, highlight their name.

Watch your language.

Write in the language you feel most comfortable speaking — even if you’re writing to a country where English is not an official language, it may be better than writing in a language that may contain mis-takes.

If you get a reply, send a copy to the National Office!

312 Laurier Avenue East
Ottawa, ON
K1N 1H9
Fax: (613) 746-2411
Our staff will ensure that copies are sent to relevant people, such as country coordinators and researchers. If the reply is in a language other than English and you’re able to translate it, please do so.

Tabling

To participate in “tabling” is to set up a table covered with information and eye-catching dis-plays for passionate activists (that’s you!) to raise awareness of Amnesty International, its campaigns, and your group’s work with human rights. Use this activity to educate people at public events or to recruit new members for your group!

Make sure you have …

The table/tabling area — don’t forget to confirm that the space you’re setting up in has been reserved for your group
Banners — aim for simple, clear messages that are positive and easily read from a distance, and remember that duct tape can be useful in a crisis
General and campaign information — have some general information about Amnesty’s work on hand, such as pamphlets for you to display
Information about your group — what events will your group be doing? Do you have social media? How can you be contacted?
Action opportunities — have a simple action, such as a petition or postcard, for people to do as they pass by
Donation jar — include a note explaining how donations are used for human rights work
Conversation space — some people may want to ask for more information or engage in a debate, so try to provide a space beside your table
Tabling skills — make sure that the people behind the table feel enthusiastic, outgoing, and comfortable. Body language is important!

Where to set up a table:

In a popular area at your school or campus, such as a common study area or a cafeteria.
In your community, such as shopping malls or grocery stores.
At conferences or other events with large populations — including rallies or school sports events.
Mix it up! Don’t stay in one spot in order to catch the attention of different crowds.

Youth Programs

Are you passionate about human rights and looking to connect and take action? Join one of our Youth Programs and make a difference in the world through Amnesty International Canada.

Amnesty International Canada offers many youth programs for people aged 25 and under to get involved and make a difference in the world. We have approximately 1,500 young people active in our programs across Canada. We have 30 youth leaders in our National Organizers Program and the National Youth Action and Advisory Committee. We support more than 150 Amnesty chapters in schools and on campuses nationwide.

Canada

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About Us

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Latest News

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Upcoming Events

Find a Local Group

Book Club

Volunteer

Membership

Human Rights Wins of 2024/25

Our Impact

Ways to Give

About Us

Online Actions

Urgent Actions

Write for Rights

Activism Toolkits

About Us

Priority Issues

Reports

Latest News

Resources

Upcoming Events

Find a Local Group

Book Club

Volunteer

Membership

Human Rights Wins of 2024/25

Our Impact

Ways to Give

About Us

Youth Activism

How to Fundraise

Why Do We Have to Raise Money?

How Much Do We Need to Raise?

MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION

POSTAGE

MEETING COSTS

PUBLICITY

SPECIAL ACTIONS & EVENTS

RESOURCES

TRAVEL

VOLUNTEER/MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION

What Resources Do You Already Have?

MATERIALS

HUMAN

NETWORK

How to make your group work

Facilitation

Be aware of people’s feelings.

Be aware of the group’s feelings.

Listen.

Be tactful.

Collaborate.

Have a sense of timing.

Have a sense of humour.

Be flexible.

Be resourceful and creative.

Follow through.

Empowering Others

Recruitment: finding new members

Connect with youth & students.

Find other groups & clubs.

Bring your friends.

Host events.

Use Amnesty.

Advertise.

Use the media.

Social media.

Categorize.

Have a contact list.

Retention: keeping new members

Welcome people.

Be a mentor.