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They say that change doesn’t happen overnight. As a campaigner, that’s something I remind myself of everyday. I’ve always been interested in how the world works and committed to helping make it a better place for everyone. When I was younger, that mostly took the form of sponsored activities or events in aid of a local charity. It made sense to me – I did something out of the ordinary like a physical challenge, people gave me money to support my efforts, I passed that money onto an organisation and they let me know how that money was spent. I could see the results in front of me; new school equipment, meals for people who couldn’t afford them. It felt great to be part of something affecting positive change but I knew that more needed to be done if I wanted to see long lasting results. I had to ask myself; why are people going without when there are enough resources on the planet for everyone to lead a happy and healthy life?
The answer lies in the systems and structures we’ve created that help keep the world moving. They can be overwhelming, confusing, opaque, in fact we might not even be aware of their existence. But international organisations, agreements, networks and even corporates can and should help create a more equal world – one that offers protection to those that need it and opportunity for everyone. Getting to know how they work, who controls them and how to influence them is absolutely key to creating change. If you want to play a part in making change happen, you need to get educated.
When something seems unjust, it’s really easy to get angry. When you’re angry, it’s really easy to make noise, which will draw attention to you and to the issue. But making noise doesn’t change anything, and actually risks damaging the cause you’re trying to support. Think about it – if you have (unintentionally or otherwise) done something that has had a negative impact on someone or something else, what is the most likely thing that will make you change; someone shouting at you, or someone reasoning with you? You might be trying to influence a local politician or the CEO of a global corporation, but the same principles apply. Put yourself in their shoes and think about what would motivate you to act for good.
I don’t want to over simplify things. If all you had to do was ask politely, the world would be perfect already! You can expect setbacks and knockbacks, you’ll take two steps forward and five back, but eventually, with perseverance, you’ll make progress. Some of the most hard fought campaigns have taken decades before they were successful. It’s worth it. You may not even feel the impact of the change you’ve helped make happen, but people will. You can help create a better future – just don’t give up. Seriously. And never underestimate how much power you have.
I know it can seem overwhelming – there are thousands of organisations and issues that need your support. That’s why I’m so excited to support the Actions Speak Louder platform, which does much of the work for you!
So, sign up, search, and educate yourself about the issues you care about. And remember, change doesn’t happen overnight, but when it happens, it is truly wonderful and one of the most rewarding things you will ever be part of.
Saira O’Mallie is a campaigner and project director with over fifteen year’s experience in the international development sector, specialising in youth mobilisation. Saira began her career in the arts, before joining the campaigns and communications team at Save the Children; supporting the executive director and coordinating their global education campaign, Rewrite the Future. Since joining The ONE Campaign, a global movement to end extreme poverty, Saira has led the strategic development of the organisation’s Global Activist programme and secured campaign wins on corporate transparency and levels of government aid spending. Saira has mobilised supporters in Brussels, Munich and Biarritz around key political events, delivering stunts that have gained international media coverage, including the cover of the New York Times.\
Image from ONE.org