Use the text Power to the Young People to answer the question.
Power to the Young People
Read Activism Step 3. What is the message of this part of the text? make it so a 4th grader can understand "to the Young People
Activism is working to change something about your community, state, or country.
It can involve marching with signs, donating to charities, or writing about injustice.
Kids have been taking action for a long time, and they still are. Maybe you’ll join in.
What sparks activism? Often, it starts with noticing a big problem or someone who needs
help. Shiden Tekle envisioned a world where Black actors star in movies and TV shows more
often. Malala Yousafzai wanted girls like her to have access to education. What issues are
important to you?
Set a Goal: What You Want to Change
about the World
Write down what you want to achieve within a year.
Make it something that you or your group can accomplish.
No goal is too small.
Make your goal specific and doable, with concrete
actions. Instead of saying, “I want to end world hunger” as
one example, write down, “I want to raise enough money
to pay for ten hungry children to have meals every day
for a year.” Then you can mark progress towards that
achievement.
Edmund Schluessel is a math teacher at the
International School of Helsinki, Finland. He has helped
organize climate action days with other teachers and
students. He was part of a group that protested in person
at the parliament building in Helsinki in 2019 in support of
Greta Thunberg.
He says, “You need to take the lead in deciding what
you’re fighting for, doing the research to back up your
arguments, and choosing the tactics you’re going to
use. You’re not a means to someone else’s end. You are
members of your community and partners in a worldwide
fight for justice. Your voices are your own power.”
Activism
Step 1
I want to...
23
Decide If Organizing Online or in Real Life (IRL)
Is Best for You
There are good reasons for organizing online. Sometimes people are
unable to meet in real life, as we’ve seen with shutdowns as a result
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the internet, people can maintain
connections or make new ones.
Another advantage is that someone can join up with people
around the world. Billions of people are online. Search engines and
social media may help an activist teen (or a whole team) find people
with common interests—in their neighborhood or across the globe.
Many websites and apps, however, require users to be age 13 or older. Real-world activities may be
the best choice for younger movers and shakers. One benefit of offline activism is that you can make
a bigger difference. Organizers who meet in person or take action IRL may develop deeper, longerlasting commitments to a cause. Schluessel says, “Change from activism comes from moving out of your
comfort zone. It’s easy to ignore an e-petition. Nobody can ignore 25,000 middle school students on the
Capitol’s front lawn.”
Shiden Tekle, 18, and his
friends wanted to see more
people of color onscreen. The
teenagers formed an activist
group called Legally Black.
They remade famous movie
posters—such as Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hollows—
with all-Black casts. The
designs appeared across South
London. “If you’re surprised, it
means you don’t see enough
Black people in major
roles,” the posters
proclaimed.
When Malala Yousafzai was 10 years
old, Taliban extremists in her home
region in Pakistan closed schools
to girls. After five years of speaking
up for her right—and the rights
of all children—to an education,
Malala was shot by members of
the Taliban. The world celebrated
her recovery. Malala became the
youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel
Peace Prize, which she accepted on
behalf of “voiceless children who
want change.” Today, her
work empowers girls
worldwide.
At age 15, Greta Thunberg
started skipping school once a
week—for a reason. Every Friday,
she stood outside Sweden’s
Parliament calling for urgent
action on climate change. Her
protests and speeches have
inspired millions of people of
all ages and helped sparked a
global movement. “I don’t care
about being popular,” she said at
a UN climate conference in 2018.
“I care about climate
justice and the living
planet.”
Reach Out to Fellow Activists
It is hard to be an activist alone. That’s why you might want to send
out calls for assistance, from people who think like you. You can divide
up certain tasks so that they feel less laborious and complete more in
less time.
The more people you have working toward a goal, the easier it
will be to complete it. Everyone feels motivated when they work as a
team. It’s also a good way to make new friends.
You might band together with family members, classmates, or
members of your community. Multi-age teams may select a teenage
member or a trusted adult to spearhead social media efforts or
organize groups online.
Activism
Step 2
Activism
Step 3
24
INFOGRAPHIC
Get to Work Offline
Kids can make a difference in many ways. In fact, young activists are often key to a movement’s success. You
simply have to pool your resources and time. Here are six actions to consider.
1. SUPPORTING NEW LAWS – People can ask elected officials in their local, state, or federal government to
make or support important new laws, also called legislation. This usually involves making phone calls and
writing to representatives.
2. WRITING LETTERS – Sending polite, clear letters to government officials, businesses, and organizations can
have an impact, especially when you organize a campaign—a large number of letters making a similar point.
3. FUNDRAISING – Have you seen bake sales and school carnivals that raise money for a good cause? You
can sell baked goods, participate in charity runs, or plan your own creative fundraiser and then donate the
proceeds.
4. MAKING PRESENTATIONS – Doing a presentation at your school, club, or place of worship on an issue is a
great way to educate others and invite them to participate.
5. BOYCOTTING – In a boycott, people refuse to buy a product or use a service until the company or
organization makes a change. For example, the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott in the 1950s protested
rules unfair to Black passengers. It succeeded. Courts eventually ruled that segregated seating on buses
was against the law.
6. PEACEFUL PROTESTING – A peaceful protest is a gathering or march to call attention to a cause.
People often carry signs demanding change. Talk to a parent about how (and whether) to attend a local
demonstration. Be sure to bring water.
My off line action idea is:
Activism
Step 4
25
Plan a Campaign Online
1. CHOOSE YOUR VENUE
Activists age 13 and older may choose to organize a group online. Google Groups and Discord are two
platforms popular with online activists. The safest approach is to limit online groups to people you
actually know. If you don’t know someone in real life, have an adult help confirm their identity before
you invite them to your group.
2. BE CAREFUL, BE CONSIDERATE
» Do not give out personal information online.
This includes your home address, phone number, school name, and any other facts that can
identify you.
» Create rules and expectations.
People are more likely to cooperate when they have rules. Then you can decide on guidelines for
discussions, topics, and tasks to accomplish.
» Never feed a troll.
Trolls, also known as mean people, will do what they can to hurt others online. Do not try to reason
with them. If a troll bullies anyone in your group, ban them immediately.
» Have a trusted adult as a moderator.
A moderator monitors chats and steps in to enforce rules. They can be anyone who can handle disputes
and keep conversations friendly and fruitful. A teacher, parent, or counselor can help moderate"
1 answer
The message of "Power to the Young People" is really about how kids and young people can make a difference in the world around them. It explains that activism is when you try to change something that isn’t fair or that needs improvement, like helping people in your community or fighting for a cause you believe in.
It talks about how young people have been involved in activism for a long time, and it encourages you to think about what matters to you. If you see a problem, you can set a goal to help fix it, like collecting money to provide meals for kids who are hungry.
The text also shows examples of young activists, like Malala, who wanted girls to go to school, and Greta, who wants to protect the environment. Both of them took action to make their voices heard.
Finally, it tells you that working together with friends and family makes it easier to achieve your goals and that you can use both online tools and real-life events to organize your activism. So, the main idea is that your voice is powerful, and you can take steps, big or small, to make a positive change!
1 answer