Change the World
A list of resources by goals is below, but you may also be interested in some of these general resources as well.
General Resources
- What's Your Thing? - This page will take you to more information about many causes that interest youth, including Animal Welfare, Disaster Response and Relief, Discrimination, Education, Environment, Health and Fitness, HIV and Sexuality, International Human Rights, Poverty, Violence and Bullying, War, Peace and Politics
- TakingITGlobal.org - A global online community, providing youth with inspiration to make a difference, a source of information on issues, opportunities to take action, and a bridge to get involved locally, nationally and globally.
- Search for news on your topic - Go to Google News and search for your topic to read current news stories.
- For teachers: One World Education - Free online teaching resources designed to bring youth perspectives about cul ture and social issues into the classroom. One World invites students to share their written reflections about an issue or cause with which they feel a personal connection, and then creates lesson plans based on the topics students write about.
Autism Awareness
- Autism Speaks - Raises awareness, funds research into autism
- Autism organizations - List of autism foundations, organizations, and treatment centers
Animal Rights and Welfare
- HumaneTeen - Humane Society of the United States
- International Fund for Animal Welfare
Cancer
- American Cancer Society - Funds research and awareness
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure - largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists
Child Abuse Prevention
- Child Abuse Prevention Month is April - Child Welfare Information Gateway
- Prevent Child Abuse America
Endangered Species
- World Wildlife Fund - Mission is to conserve nature and reduce the threats to the diversity of life on Earth
- News about species extinction - from the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Environment, Ozone Layer, Global Warming, Recycling
- Earth Force - Earth Force engages young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future.
- Friends of the Earth - Network of grassroots organizations in 77 countries.
- Ozone Layer Protection - EPA
- Green Living - National Geographic - lots of info about how you can help the environment, global warming, etc.
- Recycling 101 - Earth911.org - How and where to recycle just about anything!
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - EPA
Bullying & Social Awareness
- Cyberbullying National Crime Prevention Council Public ad campaign
- Words Can Heal is a national campaign to eliminate verbal violence, curb gossip and promote the healing power of words to enhance relationships at every level.
- Mix It Up
- A nationwide program that believes in the power of youth to create and sustain real change. It provides free tools and ideas to help youth break down the walls of division in their schools and communities.
Child Poverty & Children's Rights
- Children's Defense Fund - policies and programs that lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation.
Community Service
- Do Something - A nationwide organization, providing the support to help young people make a difference in their communities. The Do Something website is a place where young people can learn more about the causes that matter to them and how to take action in the world.
- Community Service Projects for Young Adults - eHow
Gay Rights
- Gay-Straight Alliance Network - GSA Network helps students to create safe environments in schools, educate the school community about homophobia and sexual orientation issues, and fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools.
Haiti
- Disaster in Haiti - Scholastic News
- Child Fund - Help Haiti
Homelessness
- Pine Street Inn - Serves thousands of homeless in Boston annually.
- National Coalition for the Homeless
Human Rights
- Global Youth Connect - A global youth movement that seeks to build and support a community of youth who are actively promoting and protecting human rights. It seeks to educate and inspire the next generation to work for peaceful change.
Human Trafficking
- What is Human Trafficking? - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- Not For Sale Campaign Against Human Trafficking
Illiteracy
- Facts about Illiteracy - National Right to Read Foundation
- Literacy - UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Joseph Kony & Child Soldiers
- Joseph Kony - List of resources about this issue and related issues. What you can do!
Obesity
- Obesity Society - Through research, education and advocacy, to better understand, prevent, and treat obesity and improve the lives of those affected.
Poverty in India
- Chronic Poverty in India - article that attempts to define and measure poverty in India and progress against it.
Self-harm
- Self-injury Foundation
- Self-injury/cutting - MayoClinic.com - symptoms, causes, risk factors, prevention, support, etc.
Water - Clean Water in Africa
- The Water Project
- Water in Africa - Photos and Stories - World Wise Schools, Peace Corps Africa
World Hunger
- Hunger Resources - The United Nations World Food Program - you may want to start with Hunger 101
- Bread for the World