So, you want to make a difference in the world? Maybe you’re looking for a way to get more involved in your community or feel like something is missing. You might be thinking about starting with some activism project ideas and need help with where to start. Then check out our massive list of activism project ideas.
This guide makes it easy to get started on your project with clear and concise step-by-step instructions. You’ll learn how to research potential causes, identify your audience, and craft a message that will resonate with them. You’ll also get tips on social media and other tools to amplify your reach and impact.
Activism Project Ideas
When starting an activism project, the most important thing is to know your audience. If you’re unsure who they are, I recommend researching them or creating a survey to help you find out their needs and how they want information delivered.
It will outline some of the best ways to get your message heard and make a difference in the world. Once this has been figured out, it’s time to start brainstorming ideas! You can use these steps as guidelines for coming up with projects:
General Ideas
1) Brainstorm ideas- create a list of all possible projects based on what your audience needs
2) Research- find out which ones have already been done
3) Choose something you are passionate about
4) Volunteer locally – many opportunities are available through Volunteer Match, Idealist, HandsOn Network, and Project Abroad. Consider your skill set and interests before signing up for anything so your volunteer efforts will have the maximum impact possible.
5) Use social media responsibly – remember to use social media mindfully by following people with similar views on issues you care about and not engaging with trolls
6) Create a card game about consent-themed things like “never _ without permission” or “no means no.” they can be played as regular games too.
7) Make videos exploring topics in activism from different perspectives, including all the pros and cons, and don’t forget to get excited.
8) Have a bake sale, and donate most of the profits to a local or national charity.
9) Start an organization that does free outreach to underdeveloped or poor education infrastructure.
10) Clean up litter: Litter is often just tossed out car windows by people who think it’s no big deal. The reality is that littering has some severe consequences- including increased risk of injury due to littered glass shards, environmental damage from plastic pollution and landfills, and decreased property values
Projects to Make a Difference
Do you care about the environment, social justice, and animal rights? Here are some more awesome activism projects that will get your blood pumping.
The first project is called “Plant-A-Tree.” This program lets people plant trees worldwide with just one mouse click.
The next project is called “Sea Shepherd,” protecting marine wildlife from illegal fishing, poaching, and other destructive practices.
The third idea is called “Activism 101” – an interactive online course on how to be an activist and change things yourself that also helps connect activists in need with organizations that can support them.
More Activism Project Ideas
Buy Minority-Owned
The amount of money that goes into the hands of women and minority-owned businesses is meager– only 3%. You can use this handy directory on every dollar spent at every business (even H&M!) that goes towards supporting women and minorities. Find more information here.
Join A Taskforce
Take part in awareness rallies, protests, or anything that helps combat the issue of homelessness in your community. Get involved with your city government by contacting your local mayor or city council. You can also get involved with groups that are. Specifically community-focused, like this community center in San Francisco.
Sign Petitions
Petitions are a potent tool when used correctly because they allow you to vote on what’s important to you by signing them! Your voice matters here- whether you’re signing a petition to help combat the release of dangerous chemicals in your town or to help save a particular animal from being killed for fur. Petitions can be found on websites like change.org, and new ones are always posted daily!
Go Pro
You don’t have to participate in activism full-time, but what if you could work with an organization that supports activists? You can find these jobs all over the place (look up “activism” as one of their mission statements). If working isn’t something you’re interested in doing, consider donating money. Some groups even accept donations through Paypal.
The Best Activism Tool: Your Voice
This may surprise some, but your local and state government is keeping tabs on you! What issues are important to you? Do they know about them or think that nothing matters to you because you aren’t taking to the streets with picket signs? It’s easy for people (like politicians) who don’t care about specific issues to ignore them. So how can we make sure our voices matter?
Writing
This isn’t just limited to people in the government- if there’s a specific activist group doing great things in your area, writing letters of support goes a long way!
- You could even write your letter expressing why X organization (or whatever issue) means something to you and why it’s essential if you receive a reply; even better!
- It means that the organization took its time to read your letter and appreciate what you had to say. Expressing your gratitude always helps strengthen a relationship.
Vote
This is probably pretty obvious to most people, but making sure your voice counts on Election Day is essential- politicians listen to who votes in elections (that’s how they get into office). Voting also allows you to elect someone who will represent the critical issues (and if they don’t, vote them out!).
Contact Officials
Another significant way for an organization like a government body or group of elected officials to know what’s important to their constituents is by phone calls. When politicians or other officials think they’re doing a good job (or no one cares about an issue), they’ll usually stop paying much attention. A call in the morning can seriously brighten someone’s day while also letting them know what issues are important to you!
Creative Activism Project Ideas
Think outside of “conventional” activism and get inventive with it. It could be anything from creating your eco-friendly fashion line so you don’t have to use fast fashion, starting a company that makes tissues out of recycled material (maybe even making them biodegradable?), You could also start building houses out of repurposed materials, taking walks in nature more often (which can help you feel more connected to the environment ), or writing stories based on a particular species in danger.
Practice Decency
We all know the saying “agree to disagree” because we must realize that not everyone will agree on one issue or another. If you’re still having a hard time with this, look at each case individually and see what people have said versus how you feel about it. I’m sure most of us would like to live in a world where political differences can be set aside in favor of helping others, whether human or not.
Networking
Suppose you’re struggling with outreach, whether online or in person, remember that many other people like you can help.
- There are groups on Facebook, events set up by organizations, communities on Reddit, blog posts written by others all over the web, and so much more.
- I have found these places to be some of the most helpful resources for when I’m in need (even if they aren’t strictly animal activism related).
- There is always someone who’s dealt with something similar to what you’re going through- don’t hesitate to reach out to them!
Speak Up
Don’t hesitate when a relevant situation to an issue or cause close to your heart, don’t hesitate. This can be as simple as spreading awareness by talking about it with your friends and family, signing petitions that help a cause (even if they’re not directly related to animal activism ), engaging on social media, or even giving suggestions of charities to support. Once you get involved, you’ll learn more than you thought possible. Remember- every little bit helps!
Share Ideas
Whether in writing on a blog or social media, on a forum discussion board, or in person with someone else- the more we know about animal activism and the issues around us, the better we can share that knowledge with others. It’s okay if they don’t want to support everything immediately- most people are warmhearted! Just try your best to convey whatever message you’re trying to live peacefully.
Fresh Activism Project Ideas
If you’re an animal activist or vegan living with other vegans or animal activists, that’s awesome! Many of us have faced pressure from our friends because they think being vegan is “just too hard.” There are many things to keep track of and spread awareness about- make sure whatever you choose doesn’t take away from what you love doing.
Get outside
We live in a fantastic world filled with many miracles and natural wonders! It’s truly a shame to miss out on all of these things, but sometimes we get caught up in our everyday lives that we forget to put the phone down and take some time for ourselves.
Challenge Yourself
Try adding a new challenge to your routine after learning about a topic and doing something to help improve it. Some ideas could be reading a book related to the cause you’re working on, taking up a hobby, or trying on some new clothes.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for more ideas, check out our other activism articles. We’ve got everything from ways to make your voice heard to protesting tips and how to get started in a new activist movement. With these tips and a little creativity, you’ll be on your way to making the world a better place in no time. We hope you enjoyed our list of activism project ideas. Check back soon for more updates.
