From climate change to racial injustice, there are a lot of scary problems in today’s world. It can all get overwhelming and sad at times, and that’s completely valid, but remember that YOU (yes, you) have the power to make a difference!
Just like the name suggests, grassroots activism is all about taking action from the ground up. It’s a ‘bottom-up’ approach, where ordinary people come together to spark change from a local, community level, which can grow into a huge, global movement so powerful that it changes societal norms, institutions, policies, and laws.
Cool, right? School Strike 4 Climate and Black Lives Matter are just some grassroots movements that you might’ve heard of.
And it works! For example, the death of George Floyd (which sparked the Black Lives Matter movement) caused so much public outrage that people began putting pressure on their local governments and institutions, which led to changes such as police reform and the introduction of new laws.
When we witness something that is unjust (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, or human rights abuses) remember that we have the power to speak up about it and take action. That’s how the feminist movement started! Way back in the 19th century, women started coming together and speaking up about their experiences of sexism and misogyny, and demanding for their rights.
Grassroots activism begins when a person or group of people notice a problem in society, and then work to raise awareness about it and call for positive change.
How can I get involved with grassroots activism?
Is there an issue you’re passionate about, like climate change or LGBTQIA+ rights? Want to get involved in grassroots activism to speak up about it and work towards changing the world for the better? Here are some things you can do to get started!
Get involved in youth activism
There are heaps of established youth activist groups out there that you can get involved with. You can help these collectives out in heaps of different ways, like participating in strikes, rallies, and actions, attending events like meetings and training camps, community organising, contributing your creative skills, and more!
Check out groups like:
- School Strike 4 Climate: a group dedicated to ending the climate crisis
- Australian Youth Climate Coalition and their dedicated People of Colour Climate Network: an organisation fighting to end climate change and create climate justice
- Seed: for young First Nations folk interested in climate justice
- SYN: an organisation seeking to educate and create opportunities for young people in radio, TV, and internet broadcasting.
- UN Youth: n for young people to understand and change the systems in our world.
- Batyr: to raise awareness and educate people about mental health and the importance of reaching out.
- Minus18: a community group and activist organisation creating community and fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights
There might also be activist collectives at your school or university that you can join, so take a look!
Start a student group
If a topic you’re passionate about doesn’t already have a dedicated group at your school or university, why not start one yourself? Check out our page here on starting a student group to learn more!
These are just some ideas on how you can get involved with grassroots activism. We hope this helps in starting your journey to make positive change, bit by bit!
