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101 Ways101 Ways101 Ways101 Ways Youth Youth Youth YouthCan Change the WorldCan Change the WorldCan Change the WorldCan Change the World

By Sandi ValentineTogether We Can Change the World, Inc.

From the Author: From the Author: From the Author: From the Author:

A survey of 1,238 youth in grades 7-12 identified these as their top 10 concerns:drunk driving, depression and suicide, guns at school, improving schools/education,discrimination, violence in school, drugs, self-esteem, AIDS, and abuse at home.

67% of you plan to get involved during the next year with the issue that's important toyou, 8 out of 10 of you believe youth can create positive change in your communities,7 in 10 believe you can personally make a positive change in your community, andmore than 6 out of 10 of you believe people your age have good ideas about how tohelp the community. And I absolutely agree!Another survey found that 73 percent of 13- to 15-year-old students believe thatpeople their age can make a difference in the political decisions of their electedofficials. Parents and teachers ranked the highest as people who influence theirknowledge and interest in politics. The media was next, followed by the Internet andfriends.

I worked with young people most of my adult life and know first hand how powerfulyou are to effect change when you want it.I've scoured the Internet looking for what youth are already doing to make a differencein their communities and around the world. This little book has been written to giveyou some of those ideas. It's my hope that you will look through this book and chooseand/or adapt one or more of these ideas for you and your friends to take on in yourown community. If nothing here gets you excited, I hope that at least these ideas willget your own "creative juices flowing" and you'll come up with your own project(s).You are powerful and you can make a difference.I believe in you, and so do my friends at Together We Can Change The World, Inc.!

Sandi Sandi Sandi Sandi

101 Ways Youth101 Ways Youth101 Ways Youth101 Ways Youth Can Change the WorldCan Change the WorldCan Change the WorldCan Change the World

1) Get involved in the democratic process

– and get your friends involved,too! Make your voice heard! You can make a difference, no matter your age.Encourage your schools, clubs or parents to help you use the ConstitutionalRights Foundation's extensive online library

. In their Toolsand Techniques section (www.crf-usa.org/act/ACTS_ch6.htm) you have a wealth of information on everything from the "Basics of Persuasion"to "Speaking in Public" to "Creating Leaflets, Fliers, andHandouts" to "Writing Letters" to "Letters to the Editor,""Letters to Officials," Letter-Writing Campaigns,""Petitioning," "Lobbying," Creating News Releases," andmuch, much more! The earlier chapters of informationinclude gathering statistics about your community and howto understand and use them to make a difference in your community.

Use the power of your voice to influence legislation that directly affects your life.

2) Are you involved in a club?

Encourage the club members to choose aproject that will make a difference in your community or someone's life. Forinstance, a Robotics Club designed a special device that enabled a kid stuck in awheel chair and unable to use his arms, to "throw" balls so he could play fetchwith his dog.

3) Help at a food bank or food pantry in your town.

There are a lot of people who need a hot meal or some groceries and you probably have severalorganizations in your community who provide meals orgroceries to folks who need them. Look in your telephonebook, or ask a teacher or your religious leader forsuggestions. Volunteer with some friends (or your club oryouth group) and give a couple hours dishing out food orclearing tables. Help bag groceries, or carry them to thecars. Be sure to smile and talk with the people. They allhave the same desires and needs that you do. You justmight make a friend or two!

4) Provide free babysitting.

Sometimes adults have to take their kids withthem to places to talk business because they can't afford a babysitter. Becreative and ask around – maybe a group of your friends or your club or youthgroup could offer free babysitting while parents have meetings with teachers.Perhaps a low-cost counseling center could use someone to watch their clients'