Category: Social Justice - Teen Toolkit

How to help bushfire victims

7/1/2020

There are plenty of people who have lost everything due to the bushfires in Australia. As a tween or teen you may not feel that you can do much to help them, but if we all do something small it adds up to something big. Money is the most useful thing you can give but you probably don't have much of that. Above are some ideas how you can raise some $$$ then donate them to one of the following charities who are providing relief to victims of the bushfires. Make sure you ask your parents first.
Red Cross
Salvation Army
Vinnies

2019 Ethical Fashion Guide

2/5/2019

It was Fashion Revolution Week last week which highlights injustice in the clothing industry. Many workers are not paid enough to live on and work in appalling conditions. Download the app and see if your favourite brands are ethically produced. You can find the website here.

Preach - John Legend

25/2/2019

John Legend's latest song is a political one and talks about the need to do something about the issues of today like school shootings, police treatment of African Americans, asylum seekers etc. Just because you are young, doesn't mean you can't do something.

Before you go Shopping - Watch this

15/1/2019

Baptist World Aid produces an Ethical Fashion Guide which rates companies on whether the goods they sell are produced ethically - is child labour used, are workers paid a fair wage etc? Bardo, Valleygirl and TEMT all scored a D (that's bad). Cotton On, Supre and Factorie scored an A.

Girl Power - Katie Stagliano

17/5/2018

Read more about Katie's Krops here.

Girl Power - Charlotte Guild

3/5/2018

Helping Hand

14/12/2017

Image courtesy of www.unitingcarechristmasappeal.com.au

Thousands of children go without Christmas gifts each year because their families can't afford them. You may not have a lot of money, but perhaps you can afford to buy a toy for an underprivileged child. You can leave gifts at Target stores around Australia and Uniting Care will distribute them to those in need. Find out more here.

Useful Gifts

25/11/2017

Image courtesy of https://www.usefulgifts.org

If you live in Australia, you probably have everything that you need - a good education, clothes, a house to live in, clean water and food to eat. Millions of people go without these necessities around the world. This Christmas, instead of giving more stuff that we don't really need, why don't you give a useful gift. TEAR Australia is an aid organisation whose Build a Village campaign allows you to purchase useful things for poor villages such as chickens, education supplies, a garden etc. You can print and colour a model to give to your friends and family this Christmas. Find our more here.

Girl Power - Synthia

17/10/2017

Image courtesy of http://www.compassion.com.au

Sythia is a 17 year old Compassion sponsor child in Kenya. Along with four of her peers she developed an app for mobile phones that has a panic button girls can press to alert authorities that they are at risk of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). This is a cultural practice that is illegal but still carried out on about a quarter of all Kenyan women. The app also has resources for girls who have already undergone the ritual.

The girls were invited to Google headquarters where they participated in the 2017 Technovation challenge. They came second and won $10,000 to develop their app. Thanks to her sponsorship Synthia can go to school and has access to computers at the Compassion centre. You may wonder how your small contribution helps but her family of 13 survives on $2 Australian dollars per day.

You can read more about Synthia at https://www.compassion.com.au.

Philanthropy

5/9/2017

Image courtesy of www.impact100wa.org.au.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, philanthropy is an act or gift done or made for humanitarian purposes. Just because you are a teenager who does not have thousands of dollars to give away does not mean you can't be a philanthropist. West Australian based organisation Impact100 gives people the opportunity to put their money together with other people and choose which charities to give it to. They have a YoungImpact100 program for 12-18 year olds where the teens collect or save $100 to donate then attend a fun grant event where they pool their money with other teens and together choose a charity to donate the money to.

In 2016 TADWA (Technology Assisting Disability WA) were granted $3400 to use in their Freedom Wheels program modifies standard pushbikes to enable those with disabilities to ride a bike.
In 2015 CanTeen Australia were the happy recipients of the $3402.85 raised on the day which will go towards supporting youth suffering from or dealing with Cancer.
In 2014 Choice Youth Homelessness Matters (YHM) received a $3225 grant which went directly to The Foyer on Oxford Street towards team activities for homeless youth.

Find out more here.
Generosity magazine has an article on other organisations in Australia with a similar purpose. You can find it here.