Clubs and Groups
There are two main ways to get involved in YSP Groups: through an Amnesty Youth and Student Group or a Multi-Issue Club.
The main difference between the two is that an Amnesty Club focuses solely on Amnesty work. A multi-issue group is a club that focuses on a variety of issues, including Amnesty International.
Both groups are an excellent, effective and fun way to take action for human rights in your school or community. You should choose the option that works best for you and the people you want to involve. Check with the Youth and Student Program Coordinator to see if there is a group in your area, or see the Activist Toolkit for information on how to start a group.
A Little Clarification: The Options
They both sound so good! How do I choose?!
The Amnesty Club
Amnesty youth & student groups work solely on the human rights concerns within Amnesty International's mandate. This is a great option for clubs that are just getting started, as we can provide you with all the information, resources and support that you'll need to get your group active. Amnesty clubs work on all areas of the mandate - so you and your group will learn take action on a variety of topics (prisoners of conscience, death penalty work, refugee rights, youth and student actions and many more) while learning about Amnesty International and the human rights movement.
What Do you Do?
- Check with the national office (youth@amnesty.ca) to see if there is already an Amnesty club operating out of your school or community.
- Read our helpful Activist Toolkit guides.
- Register with the national office.
- Get started!
- A subscription to our Youth and Student Program Newsletter, In the Mix. (Produced 6 times/school year)
- Campaign information and packages as they are produced
- A copy of The Rights Kit, an all-you-could-ever-need-to-know-about-Amnesty-and-human rights resource that has excellent tips on running a youth and student club
- Help and advice if you need it from your local fieldworkers or national office staff.
- A subscription to The Activist, Amnesty International Canada's bimonthly newsletter for Amnesty groups and members.
The Multi-Issue Club
This is by far the most popular way to organize for social action. A multi-issue club is literally a club which works on a variety of issues and may be receiving resource materials from a number of organizations. Most clubs go by a name which describes their "issues" rather than organizational affiliations: various acronyms (e.g. STOP - Students Together on Promoting Peace), the Social Justice Society, Multicultural Club and so on. Many Student Councils and artistic groups (such as a film society) are also taking on social justice work. Why not add human rights to the mix?
What do you do?
- Register with the national office.
- Get started!
What do you get?
- A subscription to our Youth and Student Program Newsletter, In the Mix. (Produced 6 times/school year)
- Campaign information and packages as they are produced
- A copy of The Rights Kit, an all-you-could-ever-need-to-know-about-Amnesty-and-human rights resource that has excellent tips on running a youth and student club
- Help and advice if you need it from your local fieldworkers or national office staff.
- A subscription to The Activist, Amnesty International Canada's bimonthly newsletter for Amnesty groups and members.