How to Be a Changemaker

It’s OK if you don’t know everything about an issue. Who does? But it’s important to learn all you can. You’ll feel more confident when speaking out if you know the facts—and then you can help educate others. Take Jerome Foster II. When he was 17, he learned that many young adults don’t vote. He wanted to change that. So he started OneMillionOfUs to help and empower his generation to better understand the importance and impact of their vote.

Write an article for your school or local newspaper. Be sure your arguments are well researched. Even if you’re giving an opinion, your information should be accurate. You can also start a blog, like Jerome did in 2017, with “The Climate Reporter.” Since then, the blog has become an international online publication, with youth reporters all over the world writing about environmental issues.

In 2018, Greta Thunberg, now 17, began protesting for climate action—that is, for nations to address climate change. Inspired by her, millions of students around the world have since organized and attended climate strikes and marches. The protests have caught the attention of leaders and lawmakers and have helped start conversations about the issues facing our planet.

At age 14, Sameer Jha, now 18, reached out to leaders at their former middle school about how their experience as a queer student could have been more positive. As a result, Jha started the Empathy Alliance, which helps schools create anti-bullying programs, add LGBTQ+ books to libraries, and more.

A petition is a letter that people sign asking for a change or action. The more people sign a petition, the more seriously it will be taken. In fourth grade, Zev Shapiro, now 18, started a campaign in his Massachusetts school to add a salad bar to the cafeteria. He wanted kids to have healthy options. He circulated a petition in his community and presented it to leaders at his school. And then? His idea was approved unanimously.

Connect with friends and family who share your passion. You can also reach out to people already tackling a problem you care about and ask how you can help. When Teens 4 Equality wanted to take a stand against racism, they used social media to find others who wanted to do the same.

When Carter Cygan was 16, he noticed that many restaurants in his town of Wausau, Wisconsin, were not as informed as they should be on how to protect diners with food allergies. So he reached out to his local representative with a few ideas that could help. Carter’s ideas were drafted into a bill that could one day become a law.

Autumn Peltier, 15, has been an advocate for clean drinking water for First Nation communities since she was in elementary school. (First Nation refers to indigenous peoples in Canada.) One way she has done this is by giving speeches, including at the United Nations. Her speeches have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. A speech is a great way to help others understand your point of view. For inspiration, check out speeches by people you admire. Think about how these people inspire their audience.