Sometimes it’s easy to believe you’re
the only one out there who cares about making a difference
or changing the way things are done in the world. Especially
if we come from small towns where people around us seem
to pay more attention to the score of the hockey game or
the Top 20 Rock Hits.
It’s easy to feel powerless when it’s just you
up against the world, and that’s why Rural Roots is
all about connecting youth in many different communities
across Alberta – from small, farming towns to the
big, boisterous cities – and sharing stories of the
amazing things that young people are doing in their schools
and hometowns!
If you care about making change in the world, then you’re
not alone. Read below and discover what people your age
are doing to take action on issues that matter, and how
they have gotten their schools and communities involved
along the way! Maybe you’ll feel inspired to start
your own social justice group, or simply find out new ideas
for affecting change to take back to your school or community
club.
And finally, e-mail us at ruralroots.cfca@gmail.com to share
with other Albertan youth what YOUR school, class, or community
club is doing RIGHT NOW to make a difference, locally or
globally! We want to hear what you’re passionate about
and how you’re working to take action!
In the Social
Justice Spotlight:
Name of Group/Club:
H.O.P.E (Helping Our Peers Everywhere)
Hometown: Bonnyville
School: Bonnyville Centralized High School
How & why did your group come together?
Our group came
together about four or five years ago to help promote better,
more positive influences and actions in our school. We realized
the importance of understanding our world and our roles
in it, and how we had to help, take action and become leaders
in our school and community.
What issues are you passionate about?
Our group is
mostly revolved around social justice work such as, fair
trade, education, and the situation in Darfur. We always
promote “being green and eco-friendly”, being
leaders, and helping our community and school to be aware
and knowledgeable about our world.
What events or initiatives have you organized in
the past?
We have organized
so many awesome and successful events!! We have done three
Fair Trade Coffee Houses and Markets, our very own Walk
for Darfur, we have adopted a village providing it with
a school, a clean water source, and alternative incomes,
we volunteered at the Mustard Seed Homeless Shelter, we
attended the National Me to We Day in Toronto, and we are
currently working in building another school in Africa.
Tell us about a memorable experience with your group:
One of the most
memorable experiences would be attending National Me to
We Day in Toronto with seven members of our group. It was
a completely life-changing and wonderful time that I’m
sure none of us will ever forget!
Memorable
experiences with our group happen all the time though. Last
year was a wonderful year for H.O.P.E, we were greeted with
all new members who had awesome ideas, positive attitudes,
and an eagerness to change the world. With our group we
have all grown so close working together side by side with
our events and attending Rural Roots Conferences (which
we ALWAYS seem to recall on…“Remember that time
at Rural Roots?...”) or Leaders Today Conferences.
As one of our members Michael said, “We’re like
a family”.
youth
connections