Change the world, one step at a time - Oxfam Blogs

Change the world, one step at a time
September- December 2010

with young people.
Welcome to the latest
issue of Youth Action. I
am the Youth
Engagement Assistant
working as part of the
Youth and School’s
team at Oxfam. As part
of my internship I have
been producing this
newsletter. I have been
having a great time
learning about Oxfam’s
commitment to working
In this addition we will introduce the Youth Board,
cover the climate conference in Cancun and give
you lots of fun ideas on how to get your youth
group active.
Get in touch
We love hearing from the Youth groups and
finding out what you have all been up to. Send us
an email updating us on your group activities, let
us know if you completed the climate change
checklist, or simply just send in a photo to feature
in our gallery. However you do it, get in touch.
Hope you all have a great Christmas & an action
filled New Year!
Zoë & the Youth and Schools team
Hendon School Youth Group, London
Berkhamsted School Oxfam Youth Group
Cornwall College Camborne Oxfam Youth
Group
Audenshaw School Oxfam Youth Group
Balwearie Charity Organisation (BCO)
Abraham Moss Oxfam Youth Group
Pleckgate High Oxfam Youth Group
Upton-by-Chester Oxfam Youth Group
Gateacre Oxfam Youth Group
Sir John Lawes Oxfam Youth Group
Hendon School Oxfam Youth Group
September- December 2010
2 Oxfam Update
An update on what we’ve been doing.
3 Youth Boarder meets
Government Ministers
Nicole Sparkes attends a Youth voice event.
4 Meet the Youth Board
Introducing a Youth Board member each issue.
5 Easy guide to…
This issue will provide you with an easy guide to
the Cancun Climate Change Conference.
6 Climate Change Checklist
Loads of actions to help your group fight climate
change.
7 Skills Page
Featuring a different skill each
issue.
8 Take action
this Xmas
Lots of actions you can take this Christmas.
9 Youth Gallery
10 Get in touch
Photos on front cover;
Children do morning exercises outside of school in the town of Mirebalais, Haiti.
Protestors gather to form a human chain around existing plant owned by german
energy company E.on at Kingsnorth, Kent.
Jonathan Ojopi spreading tarope from the water surrounding the camellones in
Bolivia.
The lucky children selected jump trying to grab their gifts as they are handed out for
Eid in Pakistan.

Oxjam took place
throughout October and
once again proved to be a
great success. The
grassroots music festival
promoted local talent in
venues across the UK as
well as raising loads of
money for a great cause.
Diana Vickers was one of
many artists that took part
in the Oxjam festival.
The Active Global Citizenship Youth Conferences
took place in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool,
Glasgow and Manchester throughout October.
Over 300 young people got involved to learn about
the links between global poverty and climate
change. Turn to page 9 to see more photos from
the conferences.
Places at the conferences are usually snapped up
quick. If you want to attend next year’s conference
remember to remind your teacher to book a place.
Diana Vickers performing at Oxjam
Jenny Martin from our Youth and Schools team is
currently in Israel and the occupied Palestinian
territories. She has been visiting the occupied
Palestinian territory of the West Bank which is suffering
an incredible water shortage. Whilst there she has
visited local schools and communities to explore how
their everyday lives are affected by not being connected
to the water infrastructure.
Students at the Birmingham Conference
If you want to find out more about
Jenny’s trip check out her blog at
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/applications/blo
gs/pressoffice/2010/11/16/west-bankblog-scarce-water-is-such-a-preciouscommodity/
At the time of writing it is18 days
until Christmas! If like me you
haven’t even started your
Christmas shopping, head down
to your local Oxfam shop where
you will find loads of great
Christmas gifts at bargain prices.
Turn to page 8 for more
Christmas action ideas.
Oxfam Water Week launches
next summer. The project will be
centred on three main actions.
Learn
Think
Act
Water week will allow you to learn
loads about global water issues,
think about different responses and
act by fundraising and campaigning
for change.
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On 15th September, Oxfam Youth Board
member Nicole Sparkes met International
Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, and
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at a Youth
Voice event organised by a coalition of
organisations including Oxfam. Here she talks
about her experience and the effects of the
energy of youth campaigners on politicians.
‘Ten years on, how far have these
hopes been realised?’
Weeks of preparation went in to the meeting and
on the day the room filled with excitement and
anticipation. When the ministers finally arrived,
everyone fell into a respectful silence. Nobody
quite knew what to do until Nick Clegg cracked a
joke and we all relaxed!
Mitchell spoke of the September 2010 UN summit
as “the most important meeting that is taking
place anywhere in the world this year”. Clegg
spoke of his desire to embrace the world stage as
a “catalyst” for change, persuading other
governments to make true their commitment to
spend more on foreign aid. The ministers also
spoke of their pleasure in seeing so many young
people tackling the “big moral issues about what
kind of world we want to live in”.
To convey the depth of understanding and moral
imperative young people feel about international
development we presented some of the activities
that young people have been doing. A Q & A
session followed and some serious grilling
resulted in us getting some firm statements from
the ministers. They committed to trying to involve
ever more young people in international
development, and agreed to the prospect of
future meetings with young people – so watch
this space!
Nicole Sparkes in action at the Youth Voice event.
In 2000, leaders of 192 different countries
pledged their commitment to the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). These goals
brought with them a sense of optimism that at
long last eradicating poverty might be possible.
Since their formation, young people have been
very active in campaigning to make sure world
leaders keep each of these promises.
Together with 20 other young people I met Nick
Clegg and Andrew Mitchell on 15th September at
the Department for International Development. I
was keen to find out the answer to the question
“We had shown them the
voices of young people all
over the country”
As they were swept away to their next destination
one thing was certain – the ministers left feeling
enthused. We had shown them the eyes, ears
and voices of young people all over the country,
shown them that we are backing development
and that we can reach the MDGS.
Nick Clegg declared that poverty is something
that “should continue to outrage us all”. Young
people demonstrated our hope not to be outraged
for much longer.
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Five minutes with…
We spoke to Unkha Banda, a member of the National Youth Board,
about campaign tools, being Prime Minister for the day and her funny
Youth Board stories.
Why did you want to become a member of the Youth Board?
Oxfam is acknowledged and respected, both nationally and
internationally, and the prospect of being part of its work and
development was an opportunity too good to be missed. I also
wanted to become a member as I am set on pursuing a career that
will enable me to be part of the global movement for positive change,
and working with Oxfam has enabled me to gain an insight and
invaluable experience.
Which campaigning tools have you used and which was the
most fun?
I have used several campaigning tools within the Youth Board. The
one that was most fun has to be going to Sherwood Forest to take
pictures for the Robin Hood Tax campaign.
Which issue do you feel most passionately about?
I feel passionate about many issues from climate change to access
to good healthcare, but the one that stands out in particular is that
concerning the rights of women. I find it shocking that even today
many societies (including our own) hold women as second-class
citizens in some respect. I celebrate the achievements that have
been made and the efforts underway, however, it is clear that there
is still a long way to go.
When did you first realize that you could play a role in
changing that issue?
It sounds cheesy but it was when I started working with Oxfam that I
gained the confidence to engage with groups that are already
tackling these areas. Prior to this I always felt that any role that I
could play would be too little to bring about any real change.
If you were the Prime Minister for one day, what would be
the first thing you would do/change?
The first thing I would do is to ensure wider participation of young
people within government decision-making and politics.
Have you got any funny stories from any Youth Board
projects?
Being stapled into a makeshift doctor’s outfit for the Robin Hood Tax
pictures was an interesting experience.
What is the Youth Board?
The Youth Board is a diverse
group of young people from
across the UK who help Oxfam
develop youth projects and
communications. The Oxfam
Youth Board consists of a
National Youth board and
numerous Regional Youth
Boards. There are currently
twelve members on the
National Board and a total of
thirty-five members on all of the
regional boards. So wherever
you are reading this in the UK,
there is a Youth Board member
near you.
The Youth Board meets three
times a year and also get the
opportunity to get involved in
loads of fun Oxfam projects
between the meetings. The
Youth board gives us vital
feedback that helps to shape
and support Oxfam’s youth
projects. Although we might
think we know what we’re
doing, the Youth Board keep us
on our toes by letting us know
exactly what they think. After
all, their opinions are important
to us.
Oxfam believe that young
people’s decisions and opinions
have the potential to change the
future. Your youth group is vital
to getting the youth voice heard.
The youth board are there to
give you support and help you
to be active for Oxfam.
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November 29 th – December 10 th 2010
Climate change and global warming are serious issues
for us all. Between November 29 th and December 10 th a
Climate Change conference was held in Cancun in
Mexico. Representatives from countries around the world
met to discuss how to tackle the climate change
problem. At the time of writing the outcomes are
unknown. If you are still a bit confused about what all the
fuss is about, then this page should explain everything.
The UN climate change conferences occur annually
at different locations around the world. It is a chance
for delegates from around the world to wrestle with
the issues of climate change and work towards
agreeing solutions on a global level.
Last year
discussions
were held in
Copenhagen.
No actual
agreement
was reached.
Participating
countries did
agree ‘take
note of’ a summary of suggestions to combat the
climate problem. Cancun was the 16 th annual
meeting of the conference of parties (COP16) and
was aimed at progressing the discussions in
Copenhagen with the intention of reaching a more
formal, legally binding agreement. UK Energy
secretary Chris Huhne and Climate Change minister
Greg Barker were there to represent the UK.
What was discussed?
Climate finance featured greatly in this year’s
discussion. Since the last conference in Copenhagen
$30 billion dollars has been pledged. There were
discussions around whether this proposed climate
fund would make a difference and if it is enough to
tackle the overall climate problem. Questions around
how the funding to less-industrialized countries is
distributed had also to be answered.
Parties were looking to discuss and agree to reduce
deforestation in less economically developed
countries. To ensure global temperature rises do not
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Photo above; A giant message in a bottle from millions
of the world’s poorest people washes up on a Cancun
beach.
Photo opposite; London and South East Youth Board
in action.
exceed 2C there were also negotiations on the exact
details of how countries should reduce their carbon
emissions and the exact amounts they should cut
back.
"It is time to make a concerted effort
before it is too late. We can only
achieve the results if we commit to
making progress."
President of the Conference, Patricia Espinosa
Why can’t everyone just agree to reduce
emissions?
Many countries believe that the more developed
economies are failing to live up to their promises. Out
of the $30 billion dollars pledged since the last
meeting in Copenhagen, only 13% of this amount
has been received ($3.9 billion). This is making many
less-industrialized countries uneasy about signing
legally binding agreements. Some parties believe
that China and India should start taking more
responsibility for their fast economic growth and
carbon emissions.
The dilemma remains as to how we sustain
economic growth to improve the life of the global
citizens whilst at the same time protecting the planet
against the consequences of climate change.
What
can I do?
Read the
next page to
get you
started on
how your
group can
help fight
the climate problem.
The London and South East Youth Board (pictured
above) met by the Thames Barrier. They produced a
video to lobby their local MP’s- a great example of
helping to fight climate change. Read Aamirahs blog
at
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/applications/blogs/pressoffice/
2010/11/05/our-big-climate-connection/?v=campaigns

There are lots of everyday actions you can make to help
contribute to the fight against climate change. Here are a few
to get you started…
Ditch the car. Walk, cycle or bus to school □
If you have to use the car, organize a car share □
Switch the light off when you leave the room □
Use energy saving light bulbs □
Indonesian school children wade through a
flooded street in North Jakarta, Indonesia.
These actions are vital to changing our world
but there are loads more innovative actions you can make. Be creative. Your
ideas are more powerful. Here are a few to start you off…
Send a campaigning video to your MP □
Create a campaigning video like the London and South East Youth board pictured opposite. Your
local MP will receive heaps of letters so sending a video will really stand out from the crowd. Tell
them what you think about climate change, what you are doing to change it and what you think they
should do. Turn to page 7 for some handy tips on making a campaigning video.
Persuade your parents to buy a real Christmas tree this year □
Most artificial trees sold in the UK are now made in Taiwan and China, so have additional energy
costs associated with transport. If you buy one with roots or in a pot it can be planted in your garden
after Christmas, and even used again next year.
Make your own vegetable patch at home or at school □
Grow your own food. What more could you want! Use the Internet to find easy ways to make a patch.
Recycle and Reuse as much as you can □
• Reuse old birthday and Christmas cards and make a collage on your bedroom wall.
• Reuse wrapping paper. Yes, the kind of thing your Nan does but it saves you money too!
• Raid your wardrobe (and maybe even your parents). Get creative by reusing and transforming old
clothes. Check out the DIY section in the shop tab on the Oxfam website for some creative
ideas.
Get Arty- Make posters, badges, postcards □
The picture above is a student’s impression of climate change. The
artist is a pupil from Jubilee Primary School in Hackney in London. Art
can be a very powerful medium to express your view, and is also
loads of fun! Put your posters up around school and hand out your
badges and postcards.
Spread the word □
Talk to all your friends about how climate change is affecting our world
and encourage them all get involved. If you’re feeling in the dark, read
Beatrice
using an
umbrella to
shade from
the sun in
Democratic
Republic of
Congo.
Canvas for change
the ‘Easy guide to..’ on the opposite page for a quick fix of climate
knowledge.
How many people in your group can complete the
checklist? Let us know or send us some photos of your
group in action to youthteam@oxfam.org.uk
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Make a campaigning video
Making a video can be a really fun and effective way to convey your campaign message. You might
be aiming to raise awareness of an issue in your school or college. Or you might set out to make a message
specifically for a decision-maker like your MP, Headteacher or local business person. Whatever your aims, make
sure everyone you’re working with is in agreement. Then follow these top tips to make your video a success.
Planning
1. Work out deadlines. Is there an event
your video could be shown at? Who is
helping? What are the different stages?
2. Find equipment. What camera are you
using? Does it have a built-in microphone?
What editing software will be compatible?
3. Plan the content. What will your video
say? Will it have a story? Will it all be film,
or will you use still images? Who stars?
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Filming
1. Film sections more than once.
This will give you the freedom to pick and
choose during editing.
2. Roll before and after action. You’ll
need these ‘blank’ bits of film to edit
effectively and not have jumpy audio.
3. Think about consent. Don’t film
anyone you don’t have permission from.
This can delay (or even stop) you being
able to promote your film online.
Editing
1. Return to your aim. Get really clear
about what you’re trying to achieve.
2. Be ruthless. Editing isn’t just skimming
off the bad bits. It’s achieving the most
compelling possible finished piece. Having
lots of good footage available isn’t an
excuse for a video that’s really too long.
This is the most common mistake out there!
3. Think about music. And if you decide
to use it, make sure you have permission.
This can be difficult so many people stick to
music by friends in bands and put the band
in the video credits as a thank you.
Campaigners in Birmingham use fancy dress and props to make
their message about the Robin Hood Tax fun and eye-catching.
Technical Tips
You’re going to need some basic video editing software. For PCs, you
can download Windows Movie Maker free. For Macs, try iMovie. Or
research other free download choices.
Once you’ve uploaded the video footage from the device you filmed
with to your computer, open the editing program, and make sure it will
recognize the files.
Most editing programmes will display a horizontal panel across the
bottom of the screen. You can usually set this to be a timeline
(second-by-second) or storyboard (chunk-by-chunk).
Drag and drop your different clips into this panel in roughly the order
you want them to run in. You can then create text screens (‘make titles
or credits’ from the ‘Movie Tasks’ panel in Movie Maker). Or you can
import image or music files.
If you want music to accompany clips, you may want to mute the clip
itself. You can use the ‘Clip’ menu in Movie Maker: highlight the video
clip you want to mute and choose clip/audio/mute.
Allow plenty of time and don’t be afraid to experiment. Once you’ve
finished editing, save your project as a Movie File (Movie Maker). This
command means you are creating a file which can be read as a “.wmv”
file in Windows Media Player
Inspiration: can you take tips from these examples?
• Oxfam: football and aid: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhDPu0ElzLQ
• Oxfam: youth theatre, Haiti: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub44n5_MU0g
• UKYCC: their story: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZOuekH12zU
• 350.org: youth workshops: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERHlZEvFLRo

According to Recyclenow.com, English households will throw out an additional 3m tonnes of
rubbish over the festive period- that's five sacks of rubbish per family. Much of this will be waste
that could have been recycled. The Christmas period is a great time for your group to take action.
Here are some fun ideas…
It is estimated that 83 square kilometres of wrapping paper end up
in our rubbish bins each year. That’s enough to stretch around the
equator nine times. Make your own recyclable Christmas
wrapping paper this year. Buy a roll of recyclable brown
paper and decorate using stencils or potato prints.
Get a real Christmas tree this festive season. Christmas trees
with roots can be replanted in your garden and used again the following
year. Get even more inventive and make your own recyclable tree like
the one opposite. www.ecofriend.org/entry/eco-delight-10-recycledchristmas-trees-for-ecofriends/
has loads more great ideas.
Make your own Christmas decorations. You could make them
using pine cones, ribbons, or old CD’s. Why not try making edible
decorations from chocolate or
gingerbread. Check out
http://www.britishlarder.co.uk/%20festive
-ginger-christmas-cookies-perfect-forchristmas-treedecorations/#axzz17Lx4CBjj
for a
simple gingerbread decoration recipe.
You could even set up a stall and sell your decorations at school.
Send Christmas e-cards or send locally sourced hand-made cards. Add your own footnote to
remind your friends and family to recycle and reuse this Christmas, and help spread the word.
Send a card to your local MP and let them know how your group is taking action this Christmas.
Buy eco Christmas presents from your local Oxfam shop or online at Oxfam.org.uk.
There are loads of nifty gifts you can buy, such as fixing a well, buying a goat or teaching a teacher.
Oxfam Unwrapped will locally source your gifts and get them to where they are needed most. Your
family member of friend will then receive a gift card, a gift book and a box of fair-trade chocolates.
When you spend £5 in any Oxfam shop you can enjoy £5 off at Pizza Express. So you can treat
your family or friends to a Christmas meal.
Donate any unwanted gifts to your nearest Oxfam shop.
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What has your Youth group been up to this term?
Send your photos to youthteam@oxfam.org.uk and you will appear in the next issue
of Youth Action.

Girls in Amusha Youth FC have a kick about in the
village of Kayapa.
Contact your local regional
officer…
Scotland Office:
Sara Cowan, Community & Activist
Campaigner (Youth)
scowan@oxfam.org.uk
0141 285 8874
First Floor, 207 Bath St,
Glasgow, G2 4HZ
North West Office:
Jo-Anne Witcombe, Youth & Schools
Campaigner
jwitcombe@oxfam.org.uk
0161 234 2793
Green Fish Resource Centre,
46-50 Oldham Street,
Manchester, M1 1JR
Midlands Office:
Sophia Ireland, Youth & Schools
Campaigner
soireland@oxfam.org.uk
0121 634 3611
Queensgate Business Centre,
121 Suffolk Street Queensway,
Birmingham, B1 1LX
Cymru Office:
Rhodri Griffiths, Youth & Schools Advisor
rgriffiths@oxfam.org.uk
0300 200 1269
Fifth Floor, Market Buildings, 5/6 St Mary Street,
Cardiff, CF10 1AT
South West Office:
Jennifer Martin, Youth & Schools Campaigner
jmartin@oxfam.org.uk
0117 916 6475
07876790635
Brunswick Court, Brunswick Square,
Bristol, BS2 8PE
South East Office:
John McLaverty, Youth & Schools Campaigner
jmclaverty@oxfam.org.uk
020 7802 9981
Ground Floor, 232-242 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London, SW1V 1AU
Not sure who to contact? Write to Oxfam
GB headquarters
Oxfam House, John Smith Drive,
Oxford, OX4 2JY
youthteam@oxfam.org.uk
We love hearing what all the Oxfam Youth
Groups have doing. If your group has been up
to something interesting we want to know
about it! Drop us an email or send us your
photos. You could appear in the next issue of
Youth Action.
The Sange drumming group from Democratic Republic
of Congo.
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