Community activities: Getting Involved

There are many opportunities for you to get your local community involved in human rights issues. Join an organized group or take the initiative and start a community venture where you live. Here is a list of creative projects that can be done independently, or in groups.

Promoting Human Rights in your community

Meeting the Basic Needs of your Community:

 Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer!: help out with a blood donor clinic; put in some sweat and labour with your local Habitat for Humanity; organize incoming food at your community food bank; donate your time to a senior citizens centre or to assisting persons with special needs.

‚ Create a community vegetable garden (on school property or donated land); recruit volunteers to help with planting, maintenance, and harvesting of the vegetables and then donate them to a local food bank.

ƒ Raise a collection of toiletries and necessities (for example: toothpaste, soap, and towels) for local women’s and children’s shelters.

„ Organize a human rights "Career" or "Volunteering" fair at your school; invite human rights and social services organizations in your community to set up information booths; encourage people to learn about the many opportunities there are for local participation in human rights related activities.

Recognizing local contributions to human rights

ŒPresent special "Human Rights Achievement" awards to members of your school or community who you feel have made an important contribution in the field of human rights.

 Encourage the local newspaper or cable access programmes to do features throughout the 50th Anniversary year on human rights organizations and people in your community who are active in human rights.

Ž Raise funds for a social services or human rights group in your community; donate the money in honour of a local citizen who has made or continues to make a valuable contribution to human rights in your community.

Meeting the need fo public activism in your community:

 Have a United Nations flag raising ceremony and invite the local press.

‚ Organize an internet discussion group for human rights issues or create a human rights website for your school.

ƒ Create a mural in your school or community that reflects the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights theme.

„ Enter local parades with a float or student march promoting awareness of human rights issues; be creative in presenting your concerns.

… Encourage your local radio station or cable access programs to do special productions relating to human rights (in particular, the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1998).

Why not make a contribution by raising money and donating it to local organizations that deal with human rights issues?

If you are not sure how to best distribute the money you raise, ask students and teachers at your school to submit their recommendations on which organization should receive donations and why!

Back to Table of Contents | Human Rights Page