Speak Up for Change is proud to enter its second year of giving youth and NGOs a chance to write about poverty and education-related issues and more on SpeakUpforChange.ca!
If you would like to contribute to the Speak Up for Change blog, please register yourself to Become a Writer for Speak Up for Change! You may also email your submission to editor@accesscharity.ca for consideration at any time.
We are open to informative articles, news-related pieces, videos, photography, poetry and various other forms of speaking up! Also, please feel free to also submit posts on relevant topics not covered by this writing schedule, or at different times of the year, as we will save and consider all entries. Please see the Contributor Criteria at the end of this article.
Writing Topic Schedule 2009-2010
Part 1: Fall 2009
Note that the following schedule is subject to change. Please see updates on our schedule page.
Literacy
Due: September 6th 2009
Today one in five adults still cannot read or write. Even in this modern age, world literacy continues to be an issue and an obstacle that many governments and organizations are trying to overcome. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared September 8th World Literacy Day. It is part of a decade long program aimed at eradicating global illiteracy. To begin this school year’s blog we would like to ask writers why literacy is so important to them. How it can be used as a tool to defeat poverty and improve the overall life of people living in unfortunate situations.
Eradication of Poverty
Due: September 27th 2009
Poverty is one of the biggest obstacles that people face on an everyday bases. From basic shelter to acquiring nutritional food to eat is a challenge for more than half of the worlds’ population. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated every year on October 17th throughout the world. Its aim is to allow the voices of the poor to be heard and to encourage others to do something productive about their suffering. For this topic we would like writers to explore the various causes of poverty and ways in which individuals are working toward eradicating it. Can poverty really be beaten or is it just a fantasy of the hopeful?
Favourite Activists
Due: October 11th 2009
There are many brilliant people who have contributed great accomplishments to the world. From Nelson Mandela to Mother Teresa there are many figures who have tirelessly worked to abolish many of the world`s injustices. Select your favourite prominent activist and showcase what they have done to make this world a better place. State what are their main achievements as well as why they inspire yourself as an activist. The person you select does not have to be a famous role model, take this opportunity to praise someone whose work may go unnoticed or to simply sing the praises that many already admire.
Hunger
Due: October 25th 2009
Hunger and Malnutrition are one of the leading causes of death in many poverty stricken nations. It affects about 792 million people in the world today. This includes 20% of the population in developing countries. It is known that malnutrition affects one in three people in the entire world. With Halloween and trick-or-treating soon approaching we would like to address this serious issue. Soon children will be gorging on copious amounts of candy while other children in the world will be starving. This week we ask writers to discuss what is being done to end world hunger and what we as individuals can do to make a dent in these horrible statistics.
Remembrance Day
Due: November 8th 2009
Annually on November 11th we honour the brave men and women who have fought bravely in the world`s past wars. Even though we highly support and encourage peace, it is important to acknowledge the significant sacrifices others have made to maintain and promote freedom and democracy. This week we would like to honour those who have fought for these great ideals by remembering their lives and commemorating their substantial accomplishments.
World AIDs Day
Due: November 22nd 2009
AIDS is a major pandemic which has shaken our world in a disastrous way. It has taken many lives in the past and continues to deteriorate the lives of many in the present and even the future. December 1st is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. This week we would like to commemorate this important day by doing our part in spreading the word about the significant impact of AIDS. What is its affect on people`s everyday lives and how has it changed the way we look at healthcare and preventative medicine today?
Human Rights
Due: December 6th 2009
This year December 10th 2009 will commemorate the United Nations’ adoption and proclamation of the International Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration was first ratified in 1948 and since then the United Nations has worked tirelessly to provide “dignity and justice for all.” Even though this document has stated that all human beings are entitled to certain rights this has not been the case for many in the past. This week on SUFC we would like to discuss what human rights mean to you as an individual. We would also like you to examine areas in your community or internationally where human rights have not been met.
Modern Day Slaves
Due: December 20th 2009
Even though slavery has been abolished since the early 1800s in Canada it still continues every day in certain places around the world. Both children and adults, female and male are being taken advantage of to serve other`s needs. It is important that we acknowledge how people are unfairly being used and what can be done to stop it. This week we would like writers to identify where in the world modern day slavery occurs, what the current situation is and what is being done to stop and prevent this grave human indiscretion.
Our January to June will be posted in December 2009.
Contributor Criteria
- Everything must be (to the extent of the writer’s knowledge) true and every measure within the writer’s power should be exercised to ensure that his/her contribution is not falsified
- Facts and statistics used in every piece must be accurate and up-to-date
- Resources consulted should be referenced and should be sourced properly. For example, if statistics are barrowed from the Amnesty International website, the URL of their site should be included at the end of the piece
- Each contribution should promote positive and productive discussion of the issue and should provoke influential thought
- Material should be age appropriate, considering the audience range from elementary school students to university students
- Any multimedia attached to contributions should be the work of the author. If this is not possible the author should have been granted explicit permission to use it or it should be cited properly. However, links to YouTube videos are acceptable, if the video is appropriate and applicable.
Thanks for your interest in Speak Up for Change!
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