Target group: Young people aged 13–18
Format: Self-paced digital learning activity
Estimated time: 2–3 hours
Self-paced digital learning activity overview
This learning activity empowers young people to explore climate change, human rights, and democracy through advocacy. Learners will design and launch their own mini advocacy campaign using interactive tools and examples.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this learning activity, learners will be able to:
- Understand the foundations of effective advocacy
- Identify a campaign cause related to climate, rights, or democracy
- Create a campaign plan using practical tools
- Develop a persuasive advocacy message
- Take a real action step toward change
Portable skills:
🗣️ Communication & Public Speaking
- Crafting clear and persuasive messages
- Using tone, body language, and visuals effectively
- Presenting ideas confidently in writing, speech, or video
🤝 Collaboration & Teamwork
- Working with others to plan and deliver a campaign
- Listening, giving feedback, and coordinating shared goals
- Building support networks (peers, teachers, community)
🧠 Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
- Identifying social or environmental issues
- Analyzing causes, stakeholders, and potential solutions
- Navigating challenges and adapting plans
🎯 Project Planning & Organisation
- Creating step-by-step action plans
- Setting goals, timelines, and responsibilities
- Following through with campaign implementation
💻 Digital & Media Literacy
- Designing social media messages, posters, or digital content
- Using tools like Canva, Google tools, or video platforms
- Evaluating the effectiveness of digital outreach
⚖️ Civic Engagement & Active Citizenship
- Understanding rights, responsibilities, and democratic participation
- Advocating for change through peaceful, rights-based actions
- Engaging with institutions, community leaders, or decision-makers
💪 Confidence & Agency
- Believing their voice matters
- Taking initiative on issues they care about
- Practicing leadership and advocacy in real life
SESSION 1: Discover & Design
🧭 Session1 Structure:
| Steps | Purpose | Format |
| 1. Introduction to Advocacy & Stand Up for Change | Spark engagement and personal connection to advocacy | Video + personal reflection |
| 2. Real-World Inspiration: The Beach Towel Revolt | Learn from a successful, youth-relevant advocacy example | Video + discussion question |
| 3. The Advocacy Triangle | Define your message, audience, and action | Interactive template + downloadable file |
| 4. Campaign Brainstorm – Sailing Away | Develop a strategy using visual planning tools | Drag-and-drop planner + worksheet |
| 5. Pitch Practice | Build confidence in sharing the campaign idea | Speech writing + audio/video recording |
🎥 Watch: “Voices for Change: Youth Advocacy in Action”
This short film shows how young people are leading change through campaigns, protests, and creative actions.
💬 Reflect:
What inspired you?
What is one issue you would speak up about? What matters to you? What feels unfair or needs to be improved?
→ Write your thoughts in the menti https://www.menti.com/alkpmxh4px7m
🎥 Watch: Greece: ‘Beach Towel Revolt’ becomes nationwide movement; no place in sand to sit down for free?
In Greece, people peacefully protested the privatization of beaches by showing up with their towels and reclaiming public space.
Why it worked:
Clear goal
Public visibility
Collective action
💬 Could a similar idea work in your community? What public space or right needs protection?
Complete your Advocacy Triangle:
🗨️ Message: What do you want to change?
👥 Audience: Who needs to hear this?
✊ Action: What do you want them to do?
✅ Save or download your triangle — you’ll use it in the next section.
Use the Sailing Away digital map to build your campaign strategy.
🧭 Answer these campaign questions:
What is my advocacy campaign idea? (Write a summary with the help of the second page of your worksheet)
✅ Use drag-and-drop cards already written or the fillable boxes. Download or screenshot your completed map.
What platforms can we use? (Instagram, posters, events, etc.)
What actions to do? (Petition, event, presentation, etc.)
Who or what could blow us off course? (Challenges or risks)
How are we going to do it? (Steps, teams, timeline)
What could hold us back? (Barriers)
Who needs to be on board? (Supporters or partners)
What resources do we already have onboard? (Skills, tools, connections)
💬 What’s a pitch?
A campaign pitch is a short message (about 30–60 seconds) that tells:
What issue you’re addressing
Why it matters
What you want others to do
🛠️ Your Task:
🎙️ Record a 30–60 sec audio or video pitch using your phone or webcam
or
✍️ Write your pitch and read it aloud to yourself or a friend
You may use this template as starting point :
“Hi, my name is [Name], and I care about [Issue] because [Why it matters].
My campaign is called [Campaign name or slogan].
I want to encourage [Target audience] to [Call to action] so that we can [Hoped-for change].”
✅ Upload or Save:
Save your pitch recording or typed version.
Share it in the activity gallery or with a peer for feedback.
SESSION 2: Build & Present
🧭 Session 2 Structure:
| Steps | Purpose | Format |
| 1. Communication Power-Up | Learn to craft a clear and compelling message | Infographic + video + creation task |
| 2. Campaign Creation | Design campaign materials using your plan | Poster, speech, social post, etc. |
| 3. Campaign Implementation | Take real action in your school or community | Guided activity + documentation |
| 4. Reflection & Next Steps | Reflect on your learning and impact | Journal prompts + optional video |
| 5. Share Your Campaign | Celebrate and showcase your advocacy work | Upload to gallery / presentation |
📘 Review:
Strong advocacy messages often include four key qualities:
✅ Clear – Focused on one main idea
❤️ Emotional – Connects with the audience’s values or feelings
⚠️ Urgent – Shows why action is needed now
🌱 Hopeful – Gives people something they can do
📥 View the “Communication Power-Up The Four Key Elements of Advocacy” infographic and the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpvE3bh-_0A.
🛠️ Your Task:
Choose one way to practice your advocacy message:
✍️ Write a 3–5 sentence campaign message
🎤 Record a short video or audio message (30–60 seconds)
🎨 Design a campaign poster or social media post using Canva or Google Slides
✅ Save your work — you will use it in your campaign materials.
Use your campaign idea, triangle, and Sailing Away map to create:
🛠️ Campaign materials (choose at least one):
A poster or flyer
A short speech or video outline
A social media post and hashtag
A petition or event concept
📌 Your campaign should include:
A title or slogan
A clear message
A target audience
A strong call to action
✅ Upload your creations to the platform, your journal, and save for printing/sharing in your school or community.
📌 Choose one action to complete:
Start a petition using Change.org or a Google Form
Share your poster/message on social media or school bulletin boards
Present your idea to a teacher or community leader
Host a mini event, cleanup, or awareness day
Ask your student council or club to support your action
📸 Document your action:
Take a screenshot, video, or photo and upload it to your journal, gallery, or reflection space.
📝 Reflection:
What did you learn about advocacy and taking action?
What went well?
What challenges did you face?
Would you like to continue this campaign or grow it?
What support would help you next?
📥 You may type your answers into a reflection box or upload a short video response.
💡 Choose one or more ways to showcase your work:
Post in the campaign gallery or school platform
Present during a youth assembly, club meeting, or community event
Submit your idea to a local youth council, eco-club, or NGO
Play CityBuilder now – click here