Why Advocacy Is More Important Than Ever
And how you can get started today
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” — Malala Yousafzai
The world is really messed up.
There are many issues plaguing our society today, and it isn’t right. It isn’t right that we just sit in the comfort of our own homes and accept these problems as reality.
If we want to see change, we have to make the change. This is where advocacy comes into play.
Advocacy is defined as:
public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
In other words, advocacy is pushing for change. This isn’t something that is exclusive to a minority group of people. Advocacy should be a process that everyone should be involved in at some point.
We live in an imperfect society, and as the people living in this society, we have the responsibility to make life better for ourselves and the people around us. There are many issues that you may be dissatisfied with, but without using your voice to advocate for them, there will not be any change.
How to get started with advocacy
Advocacy may seem intimidating, but it’s actually really easy for anyone to get started with advocacy.
To provide a brief foundation, there are 5 principles of advocacy:
- Clarity of purpose
- Safeguard confidentiality
- Equality and diversity
- Empowerment
- Putting people first
When advocating about a certain cause or issue, always keep these 5 principles in mind and use them to guide your actions.
With that said, here are some ways that you can get started with advocacy.
Research & reflection
Before getting started on advocacy, take some time to research and reflect.
First and foremost, research and reflection help you identify larger issues in the world around you. They can broaden your perspective and enhance your understanding of the causes, effects, and impacts of the issues.
Reflection is also necessary to make you a more self-aware person. By identifying your values, you can gain a better understanding of what you stand for.
Talk to your friends and family
Advocacy doesn’t necessarily need to be large scale in nature. Simply talking to your friends and family and sharing information with them can help to spread the word about social issues you care about.
In fact, personally engaging with these people in your social circle can be more effective in getting the point across, and they might also be more inclined to listen to what you have to say.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
Use social media as a platform
With the rise of social media, almost everyone has a platform these days. Advocacy is no longer limited to something that only celebrities or famous people can do. Anyone with a social media account can raise awareness about important issues they care about.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” — Harriet Tubman
Engage in campaigns
Campaigns are powerful tools that can be used to engage with a large audience. For instance, signing petitions is a relatively easy way to show support for a cause. When there are enough signatures on a petition, people in power are also more inclined to bring this issue up for discussion.
Donation campaigns can also help to raise funds for a particular cause and support the organizations pushing for change financially. Many a time, non-profit organizations are limited by their budget and rely on donations to cover their administrative and operations costs. By enabling these organizations, they are able to coordinate activities on a large scale and enact more change.
Organize and attend protests
Sometimes, all this is not enough. You may do everything you can in your power to advocate for an issue but it’s just swept under the rug. In that case, perhaps it’s time for something more drastic, like protests.
Protests are a great way to make your voice heard. Together with other people who have the same beliefs as you, you are able to raise awareness on a much greater scale. This signals to the government and other people in positions of authority that there is a significant call for change.
Do make sure you are aware of the legal implications of being in a protest. Some countries give you the right to assemble, but this isn’t the case for all countries.
“I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me.” — Maya Angelou.
Takeaways
If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. In this day and age, there is really no excuse for staying silent on issues that matter to us. In fact, if you stay silent in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
To recap, here are some ways you can get started on your advocacy journey:
- Research & reflection
- Talk to your friends and family
- Use social media as a platform
- Engage campaigns
- Organize and attend protests
Change starts today. You have the ability to enact some change, and no matter how insignificant it may feel, taking a step in the right direction is better than not taking a step at all.
Advocacy is for everyone.
Make your stand.
