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Greta Thunberg: Who is the teen climate activist and what has she achieved? 

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Greta Thunberg: Who is the teen climate activist and what has she achieved? 

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Greta Thunberg: Who is the climate activist and what has she achieved?

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The climate activist has been arrested in Sweden and the UK as a result of her protests.

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Devin Moore, 19, publishes book against bullying 

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Devin Moore, 19, publishes book against bullying 

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By Chelsea Collier
For The Diamondback

At 19 years old, University of Maryland sophomore psychology student Devin Moore is a published author, non-profit founder and anti-bullying activist.

Moore's work revolves around creating safe spaces for students of all identities to speak up in their communities. Moore emphasizes the importance of providing individuals with resources they can take back into their communities to create impact.

They aim to create those resources through their eight-season "Race To Speak Up" podcast, #BehindTheScreen anti-cyberbullying curriculum and published children's book Devin Speaks Up! that tells their own story about dealing with bullying.

Moore said their book, which was published in 2022, serves as an educational resource for students and parents on anti-bullying.

"I realized I wanted to give students a tool that they can directly bring back into their own environment," Moore said.

In 2018, Moore founded Race to Speak Up, an anti-bullying organization, with a mission to empower students to speak up for themselves and others experiencing bullying.

[UMD SGA offers positive outreach, gender-affirming resources to LGBTQ+ students]

The non-profit was born out of Moore's own experiences with bullying as a teen. At 14 years old, Moore faced severe physical and cyberbullying that was often racial in nature.

"I knew what it was like to go through the pain and trauma caused by bullying," Moore said.

Through Race To Speak Up, Moore visits schools, libraries and other community organizations to provide anti-bullying programming. Moore's workshops aim to inspire students to be "upstanders" who support targets of bullying and provide students with tools to prevent bullying.

Educating students at a young age could lessen the likelihood of bullying occurring, Moore said.

Pulling from their personal experiences has served as a gateway for Moore to connect with students, according to Kimberly Balducci, a guidance counselor at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School where Moore gave an assembly and book reading in January.

"[They were] were able to really relate to the students with [their] own personal experience and they all found something different that they were able to relate back to [them]," Balducci said.

At this university, Moore has focused on creating a more inclusive environment on campus.

['A community in crisis': UMD graduate students reflect on mental health challenges]

As one of 15 students selected to be a Do Good Accelerator Fellow through the public policy school, Moore facilitated diversity dialogues on campus, giving students of different backgrounds a space to discuss their identity-based experiences and build community with one another.

Moore is also the community organizing student intern for Black Student Involvement & Advocacy in the Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy, where they assist the development of educational initiatives and programming with a focus on Black student life.

"They're very motivated to be involved in campus," said Micaylah Jones, graduate coordinator for Black Student Involvement & Advocacy. "They really have a passion and heart for working with the Black community and especially seeing conditions for the Black community improve on campus."

Moore hopes to amplify students' voices - a goal that connects all their community organizing and activism. Hearing students tell their stories lets them know their work is having an impact, Moore said.

"Those are the things that bring a warmth to my heart because it lets me know that what I'm doing is in fact helping others," Moore said. "Your voice is a beautiful voice. It's one that needs to be supported."

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UMD psychology student publishes book, starts non-profit to target bullying

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Devin Moore's work revolves around creating safe spaces for students of all identities to speak up in their communities.

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Sarahi Perez serves as an anti-bullying advocate at Boys & Girls Club

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Sarahi Perez serves as an anti-bullying advocate at Boys & Girls Club

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- High school senior Sarahi Perez is a true "club kid."

Joining Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula (BGCP) in the fifth grade, Perez was grappling with persistent bullying and self-doubt. Today, she is a teen staff member and fierce youth advocate for those that have been in her shoes before.

Due to her mother's hectic working schedule, Perez grew up in after school programs. She decided to take advantage of academic support and the center's other resources.

Today, Perez works in the center after school multiple times a week and participates in programs like Keystone, Youth of the Year and a technology fellowship. While she's not working, she catches up with familiar faces.

Bullying has been a constant in Perez's life - one that even lingers today.

"I've been bullied, and I've helped other people being bullied," she said. "Me, I was always bullied because I looked a little different from the rest of the kids. I would always act more different, and I'd always be on the taller side for females."

For Perez, helping those dealing with bullying is a delicate process: advocating for them, being an upstander, but also, giving them a voice, ensuring they are heard.

When Perez was in middle school, she caught someone being bullied. She provided the victim the ultimatum: "Either you go tell someone or be an advocate for yourself or I'll do it, but I'll make sure your voice is also heard." Afterwards, the bully was given the appropriate punishment.

Associate Director of Redwood City Clubhouse Cherie Kabba, affectionately known as Ms. Chillin', has developed a close relationship with Perez over the years.

Perez refers to Kabba as her "BGCP auntie or mom," an individual who has seen and contributed to her personal growth.

Kabba remembers Perez being "a little quiet" during their first encounters. Kabba soon recruited Perez to a technology fellowship to pique any potential interests.

"I noticed she was really outspoken, a little rough around the edges. She had an opinion for any and every topic," Kabba said.

Kabba said Perez keeps everyone on their toes - pointing out injustices or violations to policy.

"I'll get a text message and she'll be like 'Oh Ms. Chillin' this kid is out of dress code. Or I think there's going to be a fight over here. Or this kid is not speaking to anyone today,'" she said.

Kabba said Perez has the unique ability to navigate different spaces because of her many years with BGCP. She knows the staff; she's engaged in the programming; she is a leader, Kabba said.

Kabba will receive texts from Perez asking about the game plan for that afternoon or asking where she is in the center. According to Kabba, this does not stem from boredom, but a genuine interest in bettering the center.

"Whatever you ask her to do - she's going to do it," she said.

Perez is not the only one that has undergone a transformation since coming to the center.

"They come in really quiet, kinda in their shells and through getting to know other staff members and engaging in programs, they develop and blossom," Kabba said. "They don't just change physically. You can tell they change in how they advocate for each other, how they speak about world issues -- it's just a world of difference."

Not only has Perez found herself, she has found a family.

"Everyone here is your brother, your sister, your little cousin, your nephew, all of that," Perez said.

She plans to pursue a career helping others, possibly pharmacy work or something in the psychology field.

BGCP serves more than 5,000 students from kindergarten to career across 29 sites within San Mateo County.

The Boys & Girls Clubs vision is that "all young people grow up to lead fulfilling lives, fueled by their passions, talents and a love of learning," CEO of BGCP Jenny Obiaya said.

This boils down to ensuring students have choices in life and equitable access to opportunities that help them thrive in and outside of the classroom, Obiaya adds.

The reality of San Mateo County is its staggering wealth divides - a fact that BGCP works to remedy.

"Most of the students we serve are considered socioeconomically disadvantaged," Obiaya said. "That means a family of four makes less than $50,000 a year and yet they are growing up in the shadow of some of the wealthiest neighborhoods, literally just minutes away from some of the most affluent zip codes in the entire nation."

The center's resources are entirely free: ranging from tutoring, college advising to mental health services to enrichment opportunities like culinary classes and competitive sports leagues.

Obiaya stresses that external factors, like the ability to afford certain opportunities, should not be the sole determination of one's future.

"We're saying, you know the young people here in our community are just as deserving of these opportunities and resources," she said. "Your hard work, the strength of your character, those things are the things that should matter."

Obiaya says giving to BGCP is "truly an investment in our young people and an investment in our community and our future."

To learn more, visit here.

To see more ABC7 Allies in Action, visit here.

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Sarahi Perez serves as anti-bullying advocate at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula

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Joining Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula (BGCP) in the fifth grade, Sarahi Perez was grappling with persistent bullying and self-doubt. Today, she is a teen staff member and fierce youth advocate for those that have been in her shoes before.

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Florida Teen Fight against Global Hunger and Poverty 

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Florida Teen Fight against Global Hunger and Poverty 

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Meet story and Daily Point of Light Award honoree Amogh Baranwal . Read hi s nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
In the town of Miramar, Florida, just 30 minutes outside of Miami, Amogh Baranwal is leading a revolution. It's not political or motivated by recognition. It's human and based on the simple idea that everyone deserves to eat. With Joshua's Heart Foundation (JHF), Amogh is tackling poverty and hunger head on. The organization has done work in six states and on four continents. Collectively, volunteers like Amogh has served five million meals and recruited 60,000 other youth volunteers.

Amogh joined the fight as a six-year-old when his parents took him to a food distribution. Today, at 17 and with over 1,000 hours under his belt, he is the Chair of the Junior Advisory Board of JHF and an advocate with Bread for the World. He focuses on both charity and justice. As an outgoing people-person, Amogh had to find new ways to communicate during the pandemic lockdown and thrives as he leads meetings, hosts educational seminars and meets with congressional representatives.

So, what does the future hold for a teenager with a passion for improving the lives of others? Amogh is eyeing an MD with a Master's in Public Health, following his older sister into the medical field. In the meantime, he'll continue helping people in need by working to change the system while providing temporary solutions.

I was six the first time I attended a Thanksgiving food distribution. I remember giving another kid who looked exactly like me-someone the same age who grew up in the same area but had much less-a grocery bag full of food. The smiles that come from such simplistic things has made an impact on me ever since.

My parents grew up in India and moved to the States almost 30 years ago. They never got the opportunity to volunteer growing up. It was just a different culture. So, when they came to America and saw students doing service, they really liked the concept of giving back, regardless of requirements. If I wanted to go somewhere to help out, they would make time to let me go there and provide me all the resources I needed to be helpful. Their love and passion for it is definitely something they've passed on to me.

I'm so fortunate to be able to go home and have a full meal and not think twice about whether I'll eat tomorrow. Some people have to have the mindset that this might be their last meal in a while. Making sure that every kid has a plate of food in front of them was something that inspired me to continue working with the foundation.

I've helped run a lot of food drives and distributions. As chair of the Junior Advisory Board, I've brought together hundreds of youth across the country, run meetings and advised on how to bring about change and how to build upon the structure we've already created.

Before this, I was one of the kids doing projects. Now, I'm able to guide them and give them all the tools they need to achieve the goals they set. Joshua's Heart has the resources and will support them however it's needed. We try to give back to the community by fostering an environment where youth can take charge and make an impact.

Recently, someone taught us the difference between charity and justice. Charity is a band-aid while justice is fixing a problem before it starts. Both are extremely important. Without charity, we would let problems go awry; people wouldn't be able to get the resources they need. Without justice, people continue to get into the position where they need charity.

Being able to work on both ends has been enlightening. We do charitable events with Joshua's Heart. Through Bread for the World, I lean into advocacy. I've held racial wealth gap seminars, which help people learn about racial disparity and how it impacts nutrition and access to food security. I had a conversation with the late representative Alcee Hastings from Broward County in his Washington, D.C. office, and he ended up passing House Resolution 189 which helps mitigate female malnutrition in regards to prenatal health.

My work with Joshua's Heart has allowed me to think of health and food in a more big-picture way. Most recently, I ran a youth advocacy conference. I taught hundreds of students how they could write letters to their representatives and held Offerings of Letters, giving participants talking points and background information for expressing support or criticism of specific policies or legislation.

I think the most rewarding part has been seeing our impact. It has grown a lot since I was six. When we see people smile when we hand them food or when they get back on their feet... That is the most rewarding part. Seeing that people are finding benefit in the work that we're putting into the foundation.

Another big part is when the youth that I've been able to help helps others, and I'm able to help create a new generation of leaders. Our world sometimes seems scary and unknown, especially in Florida, but we're still going strong.

are some other things you've learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I've learned a lot of people skills and life skills. It's allowed me to grow as a person by tenfold. I've learned how to talk to different people, whether it be community members who might not have as much as we do or people who have much more than we do, like big sponsors or Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.

Learning how to make my voice heard has been invaluable. Everyone living in a community has the right to talk about what's happening there, including youth. We all have a voice. No one is too young to take charge. No one is too young to make a difference.

We've also been modernizing Joshua's Heart Foundation, so I've been learning things like business skills, Intel and working with Excel. It's been empowering. When I go into the real world, I'll be well-equipped.

I'm really excited to see how all of our new tech and programs impact how we run. I think we'll make even more of an impact. Essentially, I'm looking forward to increasing the number of people that benefit from our programs and adding new partners along the way.

It's crucial for us to come together as a community to help tackle problems. Youth can take charge and really relish in the fact that they have a voice. We are a strong force in the community that's able to take problems we see and work towards solutions. We need to make sure that everybody who is passionate about something has the capability and the resources they need to do that.

I think the general theme of my story is that no one is too young to take charge. Just because you might not be able to vote or drive or do other things that adults can do doesn't mean you don't have a voice in your community. If anyone gains anything from my story, I hope it's that they can make a difference.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Amogh? Find local volunteer opportunities .

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Florida Teen Takes a Two-Sided Approach to Global Hunger and Poverty - Points of Light

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Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Amogh Baranwal. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily...

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“Why Is Community Service Important?” By Caridad Sanchez, VP of Academic Affairs, Florida National University. Fnu.edu

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“Why Is Community Service Important?” By Caridad Sanchez, VP of Academic Affairs, Florida National University. Fnu.edu

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1. http://www.fnu.edu/community-service-important

A text on Florida’s National University’s web page that lays out the physical and emotional benefits of helping others for teens.

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Community Service Has a Number of Important Benefits

Engaging in community service provides students with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large. Community service or volunteerism enables students to acquire life skills and knowledge, as well as provide a service to those who need it most. These are some of the common benefits of participating in a community service program:

1. Psychological benefits: Volunteering increases overall life satisfaction and helps you feel good about yourself because you are helping others. It can also help to decreases stress and ease depression.

2. Social benefits: Volunteering engages students with the community, creates special bonds with the population being served, and increases social awareness and responsibility.

3. Cognitive benefits: Volunteering helps students enhance their personal knowledge, grow from new experiences, and develop better interpersonal communication skills.

Participating in community service not only makes a difference to the organization and people being served, but also makes a difference to every student's career prospects. Participating in community service activities helps to enhance student resumes by allowing students to obtain work-related skills prior to graduation, builds good references for employers in regards to community involvement, and provides a forum to network with future potential employers. It also helps students develop civic and social responsibility skills and become more aware of what their community needs.

You can also make a positive contribution to your community by earning an online degree in nursing, criminal justice or psychology. Contact us today for more information about our programs where you can learn how to help real people and leave a positive impact on the world.

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Engaging in community service provides students with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large. Community service or volunteerism enables students to acquire life skills and knowledge, as well as provide a service to those who need it most.

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These Oakland students wanted to do more than a school club. So they started a nonprofit

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These Oakland students wanted to do more than a school club. So they started a nonprofit

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A new nonprofit group is harnessing the power of Oakland youth who want to improve their communities. The twist? The organization was founded and is being led by the young people themselves.

Oakland Student Service formed as a nonprofit earlier this year, in part because its founders-all Oakland high school students-wanted to make a greater impact than they could with just a school club, said Matteo Salvadei, a senior at Oakland Technical High School and one of the group's co-founders.

"Why stop here at a club? Why stop here at just one school and keep it within our network of friends?" said Salvadei. "With our nonprofit, the goal is service and it's just inspiring kids to come out and serve the community and love the community."

Salvadei said he got the idea to start a community service club at his school last December, and worked with his friends from middle school, who now attend different high schools in Oakland, to get the group started. His mom helped him fill out the Internal Revenue Service paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in January.

Since then, the Oakland Student Service group has done park cleanups, organized a food drive for Oakland elementary school families, hosted college seminars, and partnered with Kits Cubed, an organization led by Oakland Tech alumnus Ahmed Muhammad, to put on a science and technology fair for Oakland students. One of the strengths of Oakland Student Service is that it doesn't have a singular focus for the community service projects, Salvadei added.

"We have the creativity and young minds of teenagers and all we have to do is dream big and we can do it," he said.

Oakland Student Service has chapters at Oakland Tech, Skyline High School, San Leandro High School, Bishop O'Dowd High School, Head-Royce School, and a chapter coming soon at Oakland School for the Arts.

For an upcoming work day at Verdese Carter Recreation Center in deep East Oakland, the group will be building 10 garden beds, painting the playground slide, picking up trash, and building Little Free Libraries, which are boxes in public that anyone can contribute books to or take books from. Students plan all the projects on their own, and rely on donations and resources at their schools.

The garden beds for Verdese Carter will be constructed using wood from Head-Royce's woodworking lab, which was secured by student leader Menim Utibe-Ukim.

"We wanted to take advantage of some of the Head-Royce resources for woodwork," he said. "I coordinated getting the wood and tools from Head-Royce, and getting a supervisor there to help us construct the wood when we're at the park."

For a previous park clean-up at Dimond Park, Salvadei said he called sand companies until he found one willing to donate sand to place in the playground. The Dimond Park event was the group's biggest so far, involving 200 students, Salvadei said. They repainted the playground, revitalized the garden, and constructed new garden beds. Audrey Ohwobete, a senior at Bishop O'Dowd, reached out to the garden educators at her school for help with cleaning up the garden at the park.

"There's adult supervision but it's student-led," said Ohwobete. "It shows how much we can do as kids if we put our minds to it."

The Verdese Carter park work day was scheduled for Dec. 3, but will be rescheduled because of the weather. Those interested in volunteering with Oakland Student Service can follow the group on social media for updates. Students who want to start a group chapter at their school can fill out an application on the organization's website.

Salvadei, the Oakland Tech student, said one of the most rewarding parts of leading the organization is seeing other students develop a passion for service.

"Seeing, for example, one of my friends who doesn't like to do anything and sits at home all day playing video games, be at an event at 8 a.m. sharp to pull weeds makes you feel successful," he said.

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These Oakland students wanted to do more than a school club. So they started a nonprofit

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In its first year, Oakland Student Service has renovated city parks, organized a food drive, and hosted college seminars.

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High school student leading non-profit that helps homeless people

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High school student leading non-profit that helps homeless people

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HOUSTON, Texas -- Catherine Van, a Jersey Village high school senior, remembers her first time volunteering. She was 12-years-old serving drinks at the annual Thanksgiving Super Feast at the GRB.

"To impact someone's life positively by just the simple act of giving, it was very fulfilling and it left an impact on me," Van said.

Today she is the founder of The Giving, a youth based non-profit that provides care packages for homeless people. The packages include food, socks and hygiene products, along with notes of affirmation.

Van started the organization to also get more young people to take action. "With the giving we provide an opportunity for youth to do community service. A third of our youth have never participated in community service before," Van said.

If you want to volunteer with The Giving or donate, click here.

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High school student leading non-profit that helps homeless people

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Volunteering had a huge impact on Catherine Van. Now she's offering an opportunity for other teens to lend a helping hand.

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“How to Become an Activist.” WikiHow.com

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“How to Become an Activist.” WikiHow.com

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https://www.wikihow.com/Become-an-Activist

A text that lays out the process of activism. \

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Alex Lin, Environment, Teen Activist, text

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Alex Lin, Environment, Teen Activist, text

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https://thewere42.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/alex-lin-teenage-activist/

This article spotlights a teen who is finding ways to reuse and recycle e-waste (computers and other electronics) as well as lobbying the legislature to pass bills requiring this type of recycling.

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The Clock is Ticking: Youth and Environmental Activism, Environment, text

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The Clock is Ticking: Youth and Environmental Activism, Environment, text

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The Clock is Ticking: Youth and Environmental Activism.” By Joi Officer, Laura Cockman, and Rebekah Taft. What Kids Can Do.Org.

http://www.whatkidscando.org/featurestories/2009/06_clock_is_ticking/index.htm  This text, explores actions and initiates being taken by young people to address the growing environmental issues.

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Supporting Education and Activism on Malala Day, Girls Education, text 

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Supporting Education and Activism on Malala Day, Girls Education, text 

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“Supporting Education and Activism on Malala Day.” By Sarah Jackson and JessieKirk. Womankind.org. A web page that describes women and girls from across the world inspired by Malala Yousafazi to carry on the fight for equal educational rights.

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Malala Yousafazi, Girls Education, Teen Activist, text“A Heroic Return.” By TIME for Kids. Time for Kids.com. March 20, 2013.

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Malala Yousafazi, Girls Education, Teen Activist, text“A Heroic Return.” By TIME for Kids. Time for Kids.com. March 20, 2013.

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http://misslewis6thgradeela.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/1/1/87117454/ malala_yousafzai_time_for_kids_article.pdf
This article from Time Magazine for Kids, is about Malala’s heroic journey of healing after being shot by the Taliban for advocating for gender quality in education.

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Iqbal Masih and Craig Kielburger, Child Labor, Teen Activist, text and video “Our Story.” WECharity.org.

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Iqbal Masih and Craig Kielburger, Child Labor, Teen Activist, text and video “Our Story.” WECharity.org.

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This article is about kid activists inspiring each other to take action around child labor exploitation.

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About WE Charity - WE Charity Foundation (WCF)

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For 25 years, WE Charity empowered change and worked in five key areas - education, water, health, food and opportunity - to create transformative and lasting impact.

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Child Labor Facts from World Vision, text.

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Child Labor Facts from World Vision, text.

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Child labor: Facts, FAQs, and how to help end it." worldvision.org. This text is a general overview of child labor throughout the world.

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Child Labor Around the World, Child labor, text. Requires a subscription.

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Child Labor Around the World, Child labor, text. Requires a subscription.

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“Child Labor Around the World: How to Help.” By Karen Fanning. Teacher. Scholastic.com.

1. This text is about a middle school class in Massachusetts that heard firsthand about Iqbal’s plight for child labor laws and took action.

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With Magazines+, you get fresh, high-interest content delivered all year long-in print, online, or both. Every single story, video, and activity is designed to hook your students and keep them engaged. And because Magazines+ complements your curriculum, it's easy to implement during any part of the school day!

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Scholastic Classroom & News Magazines | Subscribe Now!

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Scholastic Magazines+ cover the latest topics to enhance instruction in math, science, reading, social studies, and more! Subscribe Today!

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Animal Abandonment and Animal Population Control, text

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Animal Abandonment and Animal Population Control, text

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Animal Population Control.” American Humane Society.org.  This web page lays out the reasons behind animal abandonment.

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Pet "overpopulation" encompasses two primary factors: (1) allowing cats and dogs to reproduce with little chance to find homes for the offspring and (2) pets being relinquished by owners who can no longer keep their animals, or who no longer want them.

Every year, millions of cats and dogs are euthanized in our nation's animal shelters because there are more pets than there are responsible homes for them. Until this issue is resolved, American Humane believes that all cats and dogs adopted from public or private animal care and control facilities should be spayed or neutered (i.e., sterilized). Such sterilization includes prepubertal spaying and neutering of kittens and puppies. American Humane supports the passage of laws and regulations mandating that all cats and dogs adopted from public or private animal care and control facilities be sterilized. It is less certain that community-wide mandatory spay/neuter laws are effective in addressing pet overpopulation. More information needs to be gathered on the benefit of prior legislative initiatives to determine long-term benefits.

American Humane encourages the veterinary profession to assist, whenever and however possible, in reducing the number of unwanted pets. This involvement includes supporting the neutering of cats and dogs adopted from public or private animal care and control facilities - thereby controlling the ongoing contribution of offspring to pet overpopulation. Veterinarians should continue to use their best judgment when recommending appropriate sterilization ages for individual cats and dogs owned by clients, especially those clients who are wellknown and likely to permit an unwanted pregnancy to occur prior to surgery. Short-term and long-term health risks for each animal should always be assessed. American Humane encourages research into the development and use of nonsurgical methods of sterilization.

American Humane also supports research to assess the causes for pet relinquishment. Prior research studies suggest that 7 to 20 percent of pets entering a home are no longer in that home six months after acquisition. These animals often end up at shelters, contributing to the pet "overpopulation" issue. Thus, American Humane wishes to understand individual, cultural and community issues that lead to pet relinquishment and to develop practical and effective intervention strategies.

What you can do to combat pet overpopulation:

1. If you are adding a pet to your family, make sure the pet comes from a legitimate shelter, nonprofit rescue group or a responsible, humane breeder.

2. Always spay and neuter your pets.

3. Consider all the responsibilities and consequences of pet ownership before deciding to get a pet and always make a lifetime commitment to your pet.

4. Educate your children, friends, family members and co-workers about pet overpopulation, adoption and the importance of spaying and neutering.

You can help stop generations of suffering. Have your female pet spayed and your male pet neutered. Don't allow them to breed and add to the pet overpopulation problem.

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Pet "overpopulation" encompasses two primary factors: (1) allowing cats and dogs to reproduce with little chance to find homes for the offspring and (2) pets being relinquished by owners who can no longer keep their animals, or who no longer...

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1. “Life after Bully: Teenage Star of Hit Documentary Finally Escapes His Tormentors . . . and Finds Happiness in New School.” By Hannah Rand. Dailymail.co.uk. May 21, 2012.

2. An article on how the courage to speak out about being the victim of vicious bullying resulted in unlikely fame and activism.

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Life after Bully: Teenage star of hit documentary finally escapes his tormentors... and finds happiness in new school

Alex Libby's life has changed since he featured in the hit anti-bullying documentary, Bully.

The highschool freshman now has other students come up and hug him in the corridors, has good friends and gets on well with his teachers.

The unlikely fame has potentially saved him from becoming one of two thousand American teenagers who have committed suicide because of relentless aggression from their peers.

Some 13million schoolchildren in the U.S. are victims of bullying, with 3million absent from class each month because they cannot cope with the torment.

The award-winning documentary by Lee Hirsh follows five kids and families over the course of a school year, including two families who have lost children to suicide because of bullying.

Alex agreed to take part in Bully in the hope that his persecutors would stop tormenting him.

He didn't realise that the brave act would bring him national notoriety, a trip to the White House and a chat with a beauty pageant winner.

Much of the bullying took place on the school bus, on which Kim Lockwood, assistant principal of East Middle School in Sioux City, Iowa, insisted the kids were 'as good as gold'.

Alex knew different.

'Most of the kids on that bus, I knew from elementary school, and we were good friends then,' he said in the documentary.

'But then in middle school, everything changes, and it's all about popularity and who dresses the best and who's the most athletic and who has the best hair. I was not the kid with the best hair.'

The bullies in Iowa called him 'fishface'. They threatened to break his bones, sexually assault him and kill him.

Perhaps, more crucially, the bullies scared away other kids who were his genuine buddies.

'I craved friends. I didn't have any friends. That was all I wanted, some friendship, someone to come over, someone to lift me back up when I'm knocked down. I didn't have that, he said.

However, today things have changed dramatically, reports the Des Moines Register .

A move to a new school, Edmond Memorial School in Oklahoma, has broken the cycle of bullying but Alex is also enjoying his unlikely fame and has become a spokesperson for the bullying cause.

He wears a T-shirt that says, 'I stand for the silent'.

Alex is not the only one: the documentary has already been seen by over 90,000 American schoolchildren and has 97,000 'likes' on its Facebook page .

Watch the video:

Watch the documentary trailer:

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Life after Bully: Teenage star of hit documentary finally escapes his tormentors... and finds happiness in new school

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Alex Libby's life has changed dramatically since he featured in the anti-bullying documentary, Bully. After leaving the school in Iowa he has now settled in a new school in Oklahoma.

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Anti-bullying activist spreads message of kindness through organization, bullying, text

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Anti-bullying activist spreads message of kindness through organization, bullying, text

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1. “Anti-Bullying Activist Spreads Message of Kindness.” By Nia McMillan. Reading Eagle.com. March 26, 2013  A text about the young founder of WeStopHate, an anti-bullying advocacy group that helps kids strengthen their self-esteem.

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Library catalog, databases, and websites for research on class projects. Satisfy your curiosity and enjoy great literature! Find ebooks, podcasts, and tools for identifying a perfect book. Online tools for making your learning more interesting, curriculum-organized gaming to make learning productive and fun! A gallery of BPS students' artistic creativity and engineering skills. Teachers can locate PD opportunities and find online tools for teaching and learning efficiency and engagement. For more information, contact: Aaron G. Noll, School Librarian, Winship School, anoll@bostonpublicschools.org Deborah Froggatt, Director of Boston Public Schools Library Services, dfroggatt@bostonpublicschools.org

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BPS Virtual Learning Commons - Research & Information

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Library catalog, databases, and websites for research on class projects. Satisfy your curiosity and enjoy great literature! Find ebooks, podcasts, and tools for identifying a perfect book. Online tools for making your learning more interesting, curriculum-organized gaming to make learning productive and fun! A gallery of BPS students' artistic creativity and engineering skills.

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Learn how Malala began her fight for girls — from an education activist in Pakistan to the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate — and how she continues her campaign through Malala Fund.

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As a voice for Detroit students, Perriel Pace has been unafraid to call attention to important issues facing her peers - whether or not adults want to hear about them.

An 11th-grader at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, Pace just completed a nearly one-year term as a student representative to the Detroit Public Schools Community District's school board, where she pressed the district to address concerns such as student mental health, transportation challenges, and more.

Perriel got her introduction to activism through an art project, but she now works on behalf of a dozen youth-led organizations, including Detroit Heals Detroit, 482Forward, Young Voices Action Collective, and MIStudentsDream, and she advocates for causes including youth empowerment, immigration rights and restorative justice.

With her school board role complete, she spoke with Chalkbeat about how young people can get more involved in advocacy, as well as how she responds to criticism, and what the district can do to help students.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What or who got you into organizing and activism?

It is so random, but my art teacher, Ms. Loomis, who is also my godmother, we painted a mural one day, and a group of kids we were working with said (they're) with an organization which focuses on transforming trauma into power. I decided to join them, and my career kind of took off from that, because they introduced me to all these other kinds of organizations doing great work. And the next thing I know I sit on 13 organizations.

Does it feel unique for you to be a student organizer or a youth advocate?

When I first started, I thought that I was literally the first ... youth leader that I knew. So I kind of carried my title with so much pride. And then I got into these other organizations, these other spaces, and I'm like, "OK, there's a lot more of us. So everything doesn't have to be a burden on me." In the past couple of years, I came across a lot of youth who are excellent leaders. And you know, it's kind of nice that I don't have to stand alone. But I do wish that more youth would get involved and be more aware of what's going on.

What do you think would encourage more youth to get involved in causes?

I would say probably to get them to actually understand what's happening. I feel like that will motivate more people to do something, especially youth.

What made you decide to join the school board as a student representative?

It was literally so random. We were in a DEYC (meeting), which is the District Executive Youth Council. And a lot of the adults there were just telling me like, "You'd make a good member on that team. You could represent for the district. You do so much in the community." And I was just like "No, no, politics and stuff like that is not really my cup of tea."

We had an election process and nobody really stepped up to the plate. So I said I'll give it a shot. And surprisingly, I did win, but I won as an alternate (representative). So if the other original reps were absent, then I could come into play.

I was watching the student reps on the board, and I noticed they were kind of shy. And I told them, "You're a student rep. It's OK to be new to things, but you're not just here for you. You're not just representing yourself. You have to speak for everybody." People saw that, and they bumped me up to one of the main student representatives.

What was that experience like on the school board?

I'm not gonna lie ... school board meetings were kind of boring. I was there from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and just listened to (agenda item) numbers and numbers and numbers. It's like, "Oh my goodness, I'm in school once again."

Most of the time, I kind of zoned out. I felt like I was kind of there just so they could say we have a student rep on the board.

But then once I started telling them that I need to at least speak, to at least do something ... (that) I don't feel like just sitting there, then they started letting me talk on the mic.

Over time, I got a little bit more comfortable. But then the next thing I know, people started gunning for me in the public comment section.

I wasn't fazed by it, honestly, because I'm used to being in this space where kids are not being seen or heard. The district staff was very supportive, but as (the public commenters) were talking and responding to me, I was writing down responses, and (the district staff) told me you can't respond to those comments. That kind of made me frustrated, because I wanted to defend myself. I'm used to giving comebacks. It made me realize a little bit how to let things roll off my back.

But it got to the point where people started coming for me on social media. It was definitely a slightly traumatizing experience, and then to know that it's grown adults doing it. To have an issue with there not being enough students' voices being heard is one thing, but when you hear a student's voice and you immediately antagonize them when they're saying something you don't want to hear, that doesn't make any sense.

What were some of the issues that you brought directly to board members?

My very first concern I brought was about the student representatives, how they were not allowing us to speak really.

My second one was about mental health. How we need more SEL - social emotional learning - between students and teachers in order to better their relationship.

And my third concern was about transportation for students. What are y'all gonna do about the way that transportation is set up? Because for me personally, I get up at 5 in the morning just to get to school on time, and I still get to school late, and the city buses are disgusting. There are creepy men on there. It's honestly scary, especially for me because I've been taking the bus since I was 12.

I talked to them about that, but they didn't provide me with the answer I was looking for, that they will do something about it, such as contacting DDOT (Detroit Department of Transportation). They just left me on the cliff with that one. So I definitely want to follow up probably later on this school year.

Do you think students have enough of a voice in the district? What do you think would improve that?

I feel like we don't have enough of a voice. I mean yes, we have the District Executive Youth Council, which meets once a month, but we have issues going on every day. I wish that it could be changed to at least biweekly meetings, where we can actively engage and work on these issues as they are happening.

The district is focused on issues like chronic absenteeism, enrollment, and academic achievement. What are students passionate about?

I don't care what anybody else says. Our top priority should be student mental health. My attendance is low not because of my bus situation but just because I get up and I'm just like "I don't want to come to school anymore." Literally the third day of school, as I walked into the building, I said, "I should drop out," because I literally didn't feel motivated anymore to come to school.

I spoke to a few students yesterday who told me that they don't want to do this anymore. School is mentally draining. It's not engaging. It doesn't feel like we're happy anymore. It's just work, work, work. We kind of had a crying moment there, because everything we shared was understandable. This is why our attendance is the way it is, because we mentally don't want to be there. Mentally, we cannot have the capability of doing this work right now. We need a break. A mental break. We barely came out of this pandemic, and we're barely out of it still.

To my knowledge, King (High School) does have SEL mental health stuff, but I don't think a lot of people are made aware of it. Or it's just not appealing in a way to students. I am planning a mental health week for King in January or February to make sure students are aware of what tools are available to them already.

It's important to build one-on-one relationships with teachers, because even then if you don't want to say something during class, you can speak with them after. You have someone to confide in.

What do you think would better support students struggling right now?

At my old school (Legacy Academy), we started each school year with SEL - social emotional learning. We did that for about two weeks, just so we could build that relationship with teachers. So we have that one-on-one relationship where at any moment, you can stop and go talk to them if you're ever feeling down or anything like that.

But now I'm at King and you can't do that. But it would be nice if we tried to get some of those things happening. We could really use this.

Why do you think students in Detroit feel so drained?

Everybody is going through something different. You've got to battle your work, and you've got to battle your personal life, and then just even with being in Detroit itself, you're constantly watching over your shoulder because, again, every day is not promised, and Detroit is chaotic.

You've got a lot on your plate. How do you take care of yourself when you're not constantly studying or organizing?

One thing that I love to do currently is ice skating. I usually just randomly tell folks, "You know what, I'm going to be unavailable for this week." And I cancel everybody. Turn the phone off, turn off my emails, etc. And I'll probably go hang out with my best friend, or go ice skating, or go to the movies. Or I love to crochet, so I will just binge watch a show on Hulu or Netflix and I will crochet.

Or I'll just sleep my day away.
Correction: Dec. 20, 2022: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Ms. Loomis, the art teacher and godmother to Perriel Pace whose art project led to Perriel's student activism. Ethan Bakuli is a reporter for Chalkbeat Detroit covering Detroit Public Schools Community District. Contact Ethan at ebakuli@chalkbeat.org.

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A Detroit high schooler's activism propels her to a role on the local school board

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High school student Perriel Pace spent the past year serving as a student representative to the Detroit Public School Community District's school board. Outside that role, she's channeled her time and energy toward social causes affecting young people across the city.

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Jackie Menjivar - TBTContent & Creative Strategist

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9 Young Mental Health Activists You Should Know

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“One thing that gives me hope is seeing young people step up and speak out about their challenges and their needs for change.”

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Eight Inspiring, Young Mental Health Activists You Should Know

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Rebecca Ruiz highlights eight mental health activists who are working to better the lives of those suffering from mental illnesses.

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3 Black Women Lead the Way for Mental Health Advocacy

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3 Black Women Lead the Way for Mental Health Advocacy

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Let’s Talk Mental Health: 3 Black Femmes Lead the Way - YR Media

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If last month was a chance to step back and honor the vital role of women in our past, today we want to honor emerging voices making history now. These teens are taking action on an issue that’s affected their community for generations: stigma around mental healthcare. Suicide is the second-leading…

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Young Activists Fighting for Endangered Species 

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Young Activists Fighting for Endangered Species 

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In 2009, when Carter and Olivia Ries of Fayetteville, Georgia, were just 8 and 7 years old, they founded One More Generation (OMG) to educate children and adults about the plight of endangered species. They first got interested in starting their own organization after an aunt presented them with adoption certificates for baby cheetahs from a rescue center in South Africa.

Eight years later, OMG is still going strong, and one of a growing cadre of youth-led organizations tackling tough environmental and animal welfare issues. In 2013, after collecting over 10,000 letters from kids around the world asking the South African president to stop black rhino poaching, Carter and Olivia delivered the letters in person to the South African government. Recently, they started the global Pangolin Awareness Art Campaign, to teach K-12 students about threats to pangolin species.

For Will Gladstone, 13, who runs the Blue Feet Foundation with his brother Matthew, 10, the spark was learning about extinction in 5th grade science at the Fessenden School in Newton, Massachusetts. He zeroed in on a species he felt deserved to maintain its foothold on this blue planet: the blue-footed booby. At first, Will didn't know how he could help. "Then one night before bed I was staring down at my feet and it just hit me. I could sell blue socks so everyone could have blue feet and I could use the money to help the bird!" The blue socks have been a hit. Today, all proceeds from sales go to the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos Conservancy.

Hannah Testa, 14, of Cumming, Georgia, says that "around the age of 10," she watched a documentary called Plastic Paradise. "I saw how birds, whales, and sea turtles were dying from ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in plastic. ... I knew I had to do something." She started Hannah4Change in 2014 to educate consumers and businesses about the global crisis of plastic pollution. Hannah has presented to thousands of adults and children around the country, as well as to the Georgia governor, on plastic pollution and practical ways people can reduce their plastic footprint.

Launching an organization or campaign before one even enters high school may seem daunting. What advice do these young leaders offer? Aidan Bodeo-Lomicky, 17, of Greenville, South Carolina, says budding activists should "find something that makes you want to drop everything and go help it." For him, it was the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. He launched V-log in 2011, a blog with news related to vaquita sightings, poems and facts about the vaquita, updates on gillnet regulations, news related to fishing in vaquita habitat, sustainable seafood promotion, and links to other organizations working to save the animal.

Thomas Ponce, 16, established Lobby for Animals in 2013 from his home in Florida to help animal welfare activists of all ages lobby elected officials and take action on issues affecting farmed animals, pets, animals used in entertainment, animal testing, and more. Thomas says preparation is key: "Do your research, formulate a plan and put it into action. Whether it is a campaign or an organization, having a well laid out business plan will definitely help you stay on track." He adds, "Don't be afraid to speak up and make your demands heard, politely and intelligently."

One need not go it alone or go big from the beginning, though. Olivia Ries says that "you can start by finding other organizations in your area that are working on issues that you care about and reach out to them and ask if they would like help." Hannah Testa offers similar advice: "Partner up with others ... until you build your confidence and knowledge base."

Will Gladstone cautions to be patient, as well. "We were really frustrated in the beginning because we had socks and a website and sold no socks for three months. We almost gave up but we didn't know what we would do with all the socks. So we kept trying different things and finally we got orders. Now we've had orders from 48 states and 16 countries!" Their Instagram and Facebook accounts are now filled with photos of customers sporting their blue socks all around the world, including in the presence of blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos.

Several young activists speak of not being taken seriously at first. Carter Ries relates the meeting he and his sister had with Chick-fil-A's director of sustainability: "At first he was like, 'Ahh, you guys are so cute, sure I will meet with you.' Then when we showed up with five concrete ways they could reduce their plastic footprint, he could not wait for the meeting to be over and he has refused to answer a single email or voicemail since. It really is sad... but that hasn't stopped us from trying to effect change."

Fortunately, other adults do take these young people seriously and are inspired by their tenaciousness. Josiah Utsch and his friend Ridgely Kelly of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, were 11 when they founded Save the Nautilus to call attention to how the shell trade threatens these animals. The boys now raise money to fund the nautilus research of Drs. Peter Ward and Greg Barord. "When I first met them in American Samoa in 2013," says Dr. Barord, "we had just traveled from a research trip in Fiji that was difficult. Instantly when meeting Josiah and Ridgely, my resolve quickly hardened and they motivated me to continue to work even harder." Dr. Barord says the boys have "invigorated the nautilus scientific community." The work has borne fruit: In October 2016, all nautilus species were listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, thereby restricting trade.

Dr. Barord probably sums it up best with respect to all these admirable young leaders and their work: "When it comes to change, age is irrelevant. What is important is to provide opportunities and expose not just younger individuals, but everyone, to what is going on in the world around them. With knowledge in hand, change and action can have significant impacts on the world."

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Young Activists All In on Animal Protection

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(Article AND TEDTalk

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At just 14 years of age, vegan teenage activist Genesis Butler has done more for animals than some have accomplished in a lifetime.

The animal rights advocate stopped eating meat when she was three-years-old after learning where the chicken nuggets on her plate came from. Three years later, after discovering the milk she was drinking came from mother cows, she went vegan. She subsequently helped her entire family transition to a plant-based diet.

Since becoming a vegan, Butler's spent a *lot* of time speaking up for animals. Four years ago, she became the youngest TEDx Talk speaker. Her talk-entitled "A 10-year old's vision for healing the planet"-covered the many benefits of eating a vegan diet. It also delved into the environmental impacts of eating animals.

Butler is now using her platform and voice to help advance animal protection laws. This year, she joined Social Compassion in Legislation's (SCIL) board of directors. The legislative animal advocacy group works to create and change laws that advocate for the rights, welfare, and protection of non-human animals.

"At a very young age, I realized that each animal was a unique individual and that I wanted to do everything I could to help them," Butler said in a press release. "I'm excited to motivate my fan base to help further Social Compassion in Legislation's mission, which is at the core the same as mine: to save every animal."

But maybe standing up for the rights of others runs in her blood. Butler is the great-grandniece of Cesar Chavez-a Latino American civil rights activist. The farm labor leader was also an animal advocate. "Chavez went vegan after making the connection [to animals] and knowing that when you fight against injustice that it should be for all species," Butler wrote on Instagram.

She often credits her great-granduncle's work and compassionate nature for inspiring her to speak up for human and non-human animals. "Civil rights activists like my uncle Cesar Chavez, Rosa Parks, and Angela Davis all stopped eating animals because they saw a connection between civil rights and animal rights," Butler told LIVEKINDLY via email.

Genesis Butler: A Hero for Animals

The teenage activist will celebrate her eight-year "veganniversary" on February 27th.

Over the last eight years, Butler has accomplished much for animals. In addition to attending protests and speaking at animal rights events, Butler has founded her own animal rights profit. In 2018, she took to social media to announce the launch of her foundation. "I'm proud to announce my nonprofit Genesis for Animals is now ready to start helping sanctuaries who save the lives of animals," she wrote on Instagram. The organization works to raise money for animal sanctuaries around the world.

In 2019, Butler became a real-life Marvel hero. Marvel Studios featured the vegan activist in its documentary series, "Marvel Hero Project." The unscripted series, which shares the positive impacts of youth activists, also included Butler as the star in her very own comic book.

Butler has guest appeared on numerous podcasts. This year alone, she's been a guest on Dr. Jane Goodall's podcast, Hopecast. She also appeared on The Chickpeeps, a plant-based podcast hosted by vegan actor Evanna Lynch.

Her animal advocacy work hasn't gone unnoticed. In 2019, animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) named Butler its Young Animal Activist of the Year for "being an outspoken animal rights proponent and inspiring countless people to go vegan." Her accolades don't end there. She's also received Animal Hero Kids-Sir Paul McCartney Young Veg Advocate and the Lisa Shapiro Youth Activist award, among others.

Butler says she hopes to one day become a veterinarian so that she can help the animals in her sanctuary. "My long term goal is to get as many people to go vegan as possible," she said. "Not only do the animals need us to go vegan but Mother Earth also needs as many people to go vegan as possible because animal agriculture is destroying our planet at a rapid rate."

10 Genesis Butler Quotes That Prove She's a Hero for Animals

Looking for more inspiring words of wisdom by the teenage activist? Here are 10 other times the vegan advocate has used her voice to speak up for animals.

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Helping the planet thrive
"What better time to commit to going vegan than the start of 2021! Last year we really got to see why it's important now more than ever to go vegan. From a global pandemic caused by eating animals to an increase in natural disasters due to climate change and caused partly because of animal agriculture we saw how eating animals is threatening our ability to thrive on this planet.
People may think going vegan won't help but according to an Oxford study going vegan is the single biggest way a person can lower their carbon footprint," she captioned via Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJwdBE7lQr8/

Eating animals causes climate change

" According to many scientific studies, raising animals for food is the primary cause of global climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and water shortage, just to name a few," Butler said during her 2017 TEDx talk.

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Being kind to all kinds

"Some people think extending kindness to all species is a weakness but it's actually a superpower so don't ever let anyone make you feel bad or crazy for having empathy for animals. I know people have tried to do that to me but it just makes me stronger and want to speak up for animals even more," she said via Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKXOCibnNUk/

The importance of veganism

"COVID, it really impacted my activism. Normally, we go out to protests, so we have to get out and get active. But we can't do that anymore. More viruses are just going to start coming if we do not switch to a plant-based diet. So we've been talking about the importance of veganism because we want a thriving planet to live on," Jane Goodall podcast, 2021.

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'Animals feel love and happiness'

"I kept feeling a pain in my heart when I ate animals and my mom thought it was heartburn but the doctor said nothing was wrong with me. When I learned I was eating animals I knew that's where my pain was coming from. Animals feel pain just like we do just as they feel love and happiness, just like us," the teenage activist wrote on Instagram.

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Inspired by other teenage activists

"Youth can make such a big difference. And I realize that because when I first became an activist, I was super young. Now that I'm older, you can really see how youth voices are really needed right now. If you see someone younger than you and they're vegan and they're making a difference, and they're so passionate about it, it makes you inspired," she said on The Chickpeeps podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGap9iMF7rA/

Veganism is more than just an animal rights issue

"We will never fight climate change without diet change. The exploitation of animals for food isn't just an animal rights issue, it's a climate issue, it's an environmental racism issue, it's a social justice issue, and it's a human rights issue," she wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKXOCibnNUk/

Eating vegan is easy

"When I first told my mom I wanted to go vegan she said she wasn't sure because she didn't think she'd be able to eat any of the traditional Mexican dishes she grew up eating. I told her she could probably make them vegan so she looked up recipes and found out she can! We can still eat traditional meals and not miss out on anything," she wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ1iaPUFyZi/

'Human and civil rights are connected'

"Human and civil rights are connected to animal rights for many reasons. One reason is the majority of slaughterhouses are in low-income communities, so they pollute the environment of the people who live there. Also, indigenous people who live in the rainforest are losing their homes because companies use the land to graze and raise cattle for food," she told LIVEKINDLY, 2021.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEZ6Sd4lblj/

Saving animals and the planet

"Not eating animal products will not only save animals, but it will help stop much of the damage we have done to the earth. According to many scientific studies, raising animals for food is the primary cause of global climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and water shortage, just to name a few," the teenage activist said during her TEDx Talk.

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10 Times Genesis Butler Has Been a Hero to Animals

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Since becoming a vegan, teenage activist Genesis Butler has spent a *lot* of her time speaking up for animals.

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Young environmental activists prevail in first-of-its-kind climate change trial in Montana

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Young environmental activists prevail in first-of-its-kind climate change trial in Montana

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HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Young environmental activists scored what experts described as a ground-breaking legal victory Monday when a Montana judge said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by allowing fossil fuel development.

The ruling in this first-of-its- kind trial in the U.S. adds to a small number of legal decisions around the world that have established a government duty to protect citizens from climate change.

If it stands, the ruling could set an important legal precedent, though experts said the immediate impacts are limited and state officials pledged to seek to overturn the decision on appeal.

District Court Judge Kathy Seeley found the policy the state uses in evaluating requests for fossil fuel permits - which does not allow agencies to look at greenhouse gas emissions - is unconstitutional.

It marks the first time a U.S. court has ruled against a government for violating a constitutional right based on climate change, said Harvard Law School Professor Richard Lazarus.

"To be sure, it is a state court not a federal court and the ruling is based on a state constitution and not the U.S. Constitution, but it is still clearly a major, pathbreaking win for climate plaintiffs," Lazarus wrote in an email.

The judge rejected the state's argument that Montana's emissions are insignificant, saying they were "a substantial factor" in climate change. Montana is a major producer of coal burned for electricity and has large oil and gas reserves.

"Every additional ton of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions exacerbates plaintiffs' injuries and risks locking in irreversible climate injuries," Seeley wrote.

However, it's up to the Montana Legislature to determine how to bring the state's policies into compliance. That leaves slim chances for prompt changes in a fossil fuel-friendly state where Republicans dominate the statehouse.

Only a few states, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York, have constitutions with similar environmental protections.

"The ruling really provides nothing beyond emotional support for the many cases seeking to establish a public trust right, human right or a federal constitutional right" to a healthy environment, said James Huffman, dean emeritus at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland.

State officials had tried to derail the case and prevent it from going to trial through numerous motions to dismiss the lawsuit.

Claire Vlases was 17 years old when she became a plaintiff in the case. Now 20 and working as a ski instructor, she said climate change hangs over every aspect of her life.

"I think a lot of young people feel really helpless, especially when it comes to the future," Vlases said, adding that she expects Montana lawmakers to respect the state's constitution and abide by the court's decision.

"Hopefully this is one for history," she said.

Emily Flower, spokesperson for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, decried the ruling as "absurd" and said the office planned to appeal. She criticized Seeley for allowing the plaintiffs to put on what Flower called a "taxpayer-funded publicity stunt."

"Montanans can't be blamed for changing the climate," she said. "Their same legal theory has been thrown out of federal court and courts in more than a dozen states. It should have been here as well."

Attorneys for the 16 plaintiffs, ranging in age from 5 to 22, presented evidence during the two-week trial that increasing carbon dioxide emissions are driving hotter temperatures, more drought and wildfires and decreased snowpack.

The plaintiffs said those changes were harming their mental and physical health, with wildfire smoke choking the air they breathe and drought drying out rivers that sustain agriculture, fish, wildlife and recreation. Native Americans testifying for the plaintiffs said climate change affects their ceremonies and traditional food sources.

The state argued that even if Montana completely stopped producing C02, it would have no effect on a global scale because states and countries around the world contribute to the amount of C02 in the atmosphere. A remedy has to offer relief, the state said, or it's not a remedy at all.

Seeley said the state's attorneys failed to give a compelling reason for why they were not evaluating greenhouse gas emissions. She rejected the notion that Montana's greenhouse gas emissions are insignificant and noted that renewable power is "technically feasible and economically beneficial," citing testimony from the trial indicating Montana could replace 80% of existing fossil fuel energy by 2030.

Since its founding, Our Children's Trust has raised more than $20 million to press its lawsuits in state and federal court. No previous attempts reached trial.

Carbon dioxide, which is released when fossil fuels are burned, traps heat in the atmosphere and is largely responsible for the warming of the climate. This spring, carbon dioxide levels in the air reached the highest levels they've been in over 4 million years, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration said earlier this month.

July was the hottest month on record globally and likely the warmest that human civilization has seen, according to scientists.

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Young environmental activists prevail in first-of-its-kind climate change trial in Montana

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Young environmental activists scored a ground-breaking legal victory when a Montana judge said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean environment by allowing fossil fuel development without considering its effects on climate change.

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Craig Kielburger fight to Stop Child Labor 

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Craig Kielburger fight to Stop Child Labor 

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* Craig Kielburger is the founder of Free the Children, a movement to stop the process of child labor around the world. Kielburger's story starts when he found out about Iqbal Masih, a four year old boy in Pakistan working in a carpet factory.

* Kielburger encourages more young people to get involved in activism just like he did. Is there more opportunity now with social media and youth-led movements for young people to start creating real social change?

* Read about the child labor laws in the U.S. that do not protect children.

Iqbal Masih was sold to a Pakistani carpet factory when he was four years old as collateral on a loan his parents had taken out to pay for their eldest son's wedding. For six years, Iqbal worked 12 hour days, six days a week, tying the tiny knots that make up the expensive Pakistani carpets coveted by tourists.

Seven thousand miles from Pakistan, however, another 12 year-old boy committed Iqbal's story to memory, an act that marked the birth of a youth-driven movement against child labor that would span 20 countries.

Craig Kielburger was searching through a Toronto newspaper for the comics when a photo of Iqbal caught his eye. He read Iqbal's story and held it up as a mirror to his own life in Canada - going to school, hanging out with friends, running with the cross country team. What he saw reflected back at him were profound differences between the two.

With the dawning realization that slavery was still very much in existence, Craig Kielburger photocopied the article on Iqbal Masih and gathered statistics on child labor at the local library. With all the idealism and zeal of youth, he spoke to his class about what he had learned, and his crusade against child labor had begun.

The Kielburger home eventually became the world headquarters for Free the Children (FTC), a nonprofit organization that works to abolish child labor practices worldwide. Today, over 100,000 children in 27 countries - including Canada, the US, Mexico, India, Brazil, Ghana, and Pakistan - have been involved in FTC activities, and the organization receives thousands of letters each week from children who want to get involved.
Read the full article on child labor from Prodios at Medium.

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How a 12-Year-Old Worked to Stop Child Labor

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Craig Kielburger is the founder of Free the Children, a movement to stop the process of child labor around the world. Kielburger's story starts when he found out about Iqbal Masih, a four year old boy in Pakistan working in a carpet factory. Kielbur

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international relations and national security

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Kailash Satyarthi plans to end child labor in his lifetime | CNN

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Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi is on a mission to end child labor. He says we have the means - we just need to find the compassion.

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Bullying Victim's Thoughts on a Painful Bus Ride

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Bullying Victim's Thoughts on a Painful Bus Ride

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Mental Health Impact of Bullying on Kids and Teens 

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Mental Health Impact of Bullying on Kids and Teens 

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The Mental Health Impact of Bullying on Kids and Teens | McLean Hospital

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Bullying can make a lasting impact. Learn about the different types of bullying, its effects on mental health, and how to get help for it.

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brand safety-nsf products and consumers negative

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human resources and personnel management

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international relations and national security

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Illegal child labor is on the rise in a tight job market | CNN Business

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There's been a serious increase in child labor law violations in the US over the past few years. Well known companies, consumer-facing name brands, have been caught employing children for grueling work in dangerous conditions.

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the federal child labor laws. Generally speaking, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the minimum age for employment (14 years for non-agricultural jobs), restricts the hours youth under the age of 16 may work, and prohibits youth under the age of 18 from being employed in hazardous occupations. In addition, the FLSA establishes subminimum wage standards for certain employees who are less than 20 years of age, full-time students, student learners, apprentices, and workers with disabilities. Employers generally must have authorization from WHD in order to pay subminimum wage rates.

The FLSA's child labor provisions are designed to protect the educational opportunities of youth and prohibit their employment in jobs that are detrimental to their health and safety. The Department's YouthRules! initiative helps promote positive and safe work experiences for young workers.

All states also have standards concerning youth employment. When federal and state standards are different, the rules that provide the most protection to young workers will apply.

Note that federal employment laws on safety and health, discrimination, benefits, etc. apply to youth, as well as to older workers.

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the federal child labor laws. Generally speaking, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the minimum age for employment (14 years for non-agricultural jobs), restricts the hours youth under the age of 16 may work, and prohibits youth under the age of 18 from being employed in hazardous occupations.

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Estimates by the Association of Farmworker Opportunity programs, based on figures gathered by the Department of Labor, suggest that there are approximately 500,000 child farmworkers in the United States. Many of these children start working as young as age 8, and 72-hour work weeks (more than 10 hours per day) are not uncommon.

Agricultural work is demanding and dangerous. Children are regularly exposed to pesticides, greatly increasing their risk for cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that children are three times more susceptible to the pesticides' carcinogenic effects than are adults. Environmental conditions (particularly extreme heat) and dangerous farming tools are even more immediate threats. A report by the Government Accountability Office suggests that 100,000 child farmworkers are injured on the job every year and that children account for 20 percent of farming fatalities.

And yet, these abuses are, for the most part, legal under current U.S. law. The United States' Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) prohibits those under the age of 14 from working in most industries, restricts hours to no more than three on a school day until 16, and prohibits hazardous work until 18 for most industries. However, these regulations do not apply to agricultural labor because of outdated exemptions based upon an agrarian society largely left to the past. Today's farmworker children are largely migrant workers who deserve the same protection as other youth working in less dangerous occupations.

Visit In Our Own Backyard, the AFT's Web site on the hidden problem of child farmworkers in America, to learn more.

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Estimates by the Association of Farmworker Opportunity programs, based on figures gathered by the Department of Labor, suggest that there are approximately 500,000 child farmworkers in the United States. Many of these children start working as young as age 8, and 72-hour work weeks (more than 10 hours per day) are not uncommon.

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US Department of Health and Human Services

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Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)

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Bullying can negatively impact mental health and well-being.

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Global Hunger Rises during COVID-19 Pandemic

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Global Hunger Rises during COVID-19 Pandemic

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UN report: Global hunger rises during COVID-19 pandemic

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Food insecurity has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting over 800 million people globally in 2021, according to a July United Nations report.

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A global food crisis | World Food Programme

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2023: Another year of extreme jeopardy for those struggling to feed their families

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UN Report: Global hunger numbers rose to as many as 828 million in 2021

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UN Report: Global hunger numbers rose to as many as 828 million in 2021

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The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (1), according to a United Nations report that provides fresh evidence that the world is moving further away from its goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030.

The 2022 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report presents updates on the food security and nutrition situation around the world, including the latest estimates of the cost and affordability of a healthy diet. The report also looks at ways in which governments can repurpose their current support to agriculture to reduce the cost of healthy diets, mindful of the limited public resources available in many parts of the world.

The report was jointly published today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The numbers paint a grim picture:

As many as 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2021 - 46 million people more from a year earlier and 150 million more from 2019.

After remaining relatively unchanged since 2015, the proportion of people affected by hunger jumped in 2020 and continued to rise in 2021, to 9.8% of the world population. This compares with 8% in 2019 and 9.3% in 2020.

Around 2.3 billion people in the world (29.3%) were moderately or severely food insecure in 2021 - 350 million more compared to before the outbreak of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Nearly 924 million people (11.7% of the global population) faced food insecurity at severe levels, an increase of 207 million in two years.

The gender gap in food insecurity continued to rise in 2021 - 31.9% of women in the world were moderately or severely food insecure, compared to 27.6% of men - a gap of more than 4 percentage points, compared with 3 percentage points in 2020.

Almost 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2020, up 112 million from 2019, reflecting the effects of inflation in consumer food prices stemming from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put in place to contain it.

An estimated 45 million children under the age of five were suffering from wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition, which increases children's risk of death by up to 12 times. Furthermore, 149 million children under the age of five had stunted growth and development due to a chronic lack of essential nutrients in their diets, while 39 million were overweight.

Progress is being made on exclusive breastfeeding, with nearly 44% of infants under 6 months of age being exclusively breastfed worldwide in 2020. This is still short of the 50% target by 2030. Of great concern, 2 in 3 children are not fed the minimum diverse diet they need to grow and develop to their full potential.

Looking forward, projections are that nearly 670 million people (8% of the world population) will still be facing hunger in 2030 - even if a global economic recovery is taken into consideration. This is a similar number to 2015, when the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition by the end of this decade was launched under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As this report is being published, the ongoing war in Ukraine, involving two of the biggest global producers of staple cereals, oilseeds and fertilizer, is disrupting international supply chains and pushing up the prices of grain, fertilizer, energy, as well as ready-to-use therapeutic food for children with severe malnutrition. This comes as supply chains are already being adversely affected by increasingly frequent extreme climate events, especially in low-income countries, and has potentially sobering implications for global food security and nutrition.

"This report repeatedly highlights the intensification of these major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition: conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks, combined with growing inequalities," the heads of the five UN agencies (2) wrote in this year's Foreword. "The issue at stake is not whether adversities will continue to occur or not, but how we must take bolder action to build resilience against future shocks."
Repurposing agricultural policies

The report notes as striking that worldwide support for the food and agricultural sector averaged almost US$ 630 billion a year between 2013 and 2018. The lion's share of it goes to individual farmers, through trade and market policies and fiscal subsidies. However, not only is much of this support market-distorting, but it is not reaching many farmers, hurts the environment and does not promote the production of nutritious foods that make up a healthy diet. That's in part because subsidies often target the production of staple foods, dairy and other animal source foods, especially in high- and upper-middle-income countries. Rice, sugar and meats of various types are most incentivized food items worldwide, while fruits and vegetables are relatively less supported, particularly in some low-income countries.

With the threats of a global recession looming, and the implications this has on public revenues and expenditures, a way to support economic recovery involves the repurposing of food and agricultural support to target nutritious foods where per capita consumption does not yet match the recommended levels for healthy diets.

The evidence suggests that if governments repurpose the resources they are using to incentivize the production, supply and consumption of nutritious foods, they will contribute to making healthy diets less costly, more affordable and equitably for all.
(1) (2) For FAO - QU Dongyu, Director-General; for IFAD - Gilbert F. Houngbo, President; for UNICEF - Catherine Russell, Executive Director; for WFP - David Beasley, Executive Director; for WHO - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General. What they said
It is estimated that between 702 and 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2021. The estimate is presented as a range to reflect the added uncertainty in data collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. The increases are measured with reference to the middle of the projected range (768 million).
Finally, the report also points out that governments could do more to reduce trade barriers for nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables and pulses.
Acute food insecurity Hunger Malnutrition Moderate food insecurity Severe food insecurity Undernourishment: a condition in which an individual's habitual food consumption is insufficient to provide the amount of dietary energy required to maintain a normal, active, healthy life. The prevalence of undernourishment is used to measure hunger (SDG indicator 2.1.1). : a level of severity of food insecurity at which, at some time during the year, people have run out of food, experienced hunger and at the most extreme, gone without food for a day or more. Measured based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. : a level of severity of food insecurity at which people face uncertainties about their ability to obtain food and have been forced to reduce, at times during the year, the quality and/or quantity of food they consume due to lack of money or other resources. It refers to a lack of consistent access to food, which diminishes dietary quality and disrupts normal eating patterns. Measured based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. : an abnormal physiological condition caused by inadequate, unbalanced or excessive intake of macronutrients and/or micronutrients. Malnutrition includes undernutrition (child stunting and wasting, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies) as well as overweight and obesity. : an uncomfortable or painful sensation caused by insufficient energy from diet. Food deprivation. In this report, the term hunger is synonymous with chronic undernourishment and is measured by the prevalence of undernourishment (PoU). : food insecurity found in a specified area at a specific point in time and of a severity that threatens lives or livelihoods, or both, regardless of the causes, context or duration. Has relevance in providing strategic guidance to actions that focus on short-term objectives to prevent, mitigate or decrease severe food insecurity.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu: "Low-income countries, where agriculture is key to the economy, jobs and rural livelihoods, have little public resources to repurpose. FAO is committed to continue working together with these countries to explore opportunities for increasing the provision of public services for all actors across agrifood systems."

IFAD President Gilbert F. Houngbo: "These are depressing figures for humanity. We continue to move away from our goal of ending hunger by 2030. The ripple effects of the global food crisis will most likely worsen the outcome again next year. We need a more intense approach to end hunger and IFAD stands ready to do its part by scaling up its operations and impact. We look forward to having everyone's support."

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell: "The unprecedented scale of the malnutrition crisis demands an unprecedented response. We must double our efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable children have access to nutritious, safe, and affordable diets -- and services for the early prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition. With so many children's lives and futures at stake, this is the time to step up our ambition for child nutrition - and we have no time to waste."

WFP Executive Director David Beasley: "There is a real danger these numbers will climb even higher in the months ahead. The global price spikes in food, fuel and fertilizers that we are seeing as a result of the crisis in Ukraine threaten to push countries around the world into famine. The result will be global destabilization, starvation, and mass migration on an unprecedented scale. We have to act today to avert this looming catastrophe."

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: "Every year, 11 million people die due to unhealthy diets. Rising food prices mean this will only get worse. WHO supports countries' efforts to improve food systems through taxing unhealthy foods and subsidising healthy options, protecting children from harmful marketing, and ensuring clear nutrition labels. We must work together to achieve the 2030 global nutrition targets, to fight hunger and malnutrition, and to ensure that food is a source of health for all."

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UN Report: Global hunger numbers rose to as many as 828 million in 2021

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The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (1), according to a United Nations report that provides fresh evidence that the world is moving further away from its goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030.

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Hunger numbers stubbornly high for three consecutive years as global crises deepen: UN report

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Hunger numbers stubbornly high for three consecutive years as global crises deepen: UN report

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Hunger numbers stubbornly high for three consecutive years as global crises deepen: UN report

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Around 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, equivalent to one in eleven people globally and one in five in Africa, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report published today by five United Nations specialized agencies.

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18-year-old actor and activist Lou Wegner is the founder of the national movement Kids Against Animal Cruelty. He currently lives and works in Southern California.

NSP: What you are most passionate about?

LW: I am most passionate about spreading awareness to my generation to be pet-responsible. I was devastated to learn that 4 to 6 million pets are euthanized in U.S. shelters every year and wanted to do something to make a difference. I don't think people are aware that shelters are horribly overcrowded and that animals have to be euthanized to make room for the ones coming in. I spend a lot of time with my organization, Kids Against Animal Cruelty, that I founded to help save lives through education, social media networking and volunteering at local shelters.

NSP: What is it that inspired you to start Kids Against Animal Cruelty?

LW: When I was 14, the director of my first film, Be Good To Eddie Lee, asked me if I had ever been to a shelter. At the time, I had three rescued dogs but they came from rescue groups. I had never been to a shelter, and started to volunteer. It's there that I quickly learned that animals (pets of all kinds) are euthanized for space. I was devastated. I had to do something.

NSP: What has contributed most to keeping you on the path you are on now?

LW: When you are faced with odds like millions of deaths, it is daunting and depressing, BUT saving lives and seeing the joy on an the animal's face with its new family is so rewarding. The depressing turns into happiness.

Thankfully, and fortunately, I have relied upon the teamwork, expertise and contributions of amazing adults: rescue and animal welfare organizations, animal control workers, and shelter volunteers. All help guide and educate me in the best way possible to help save lives.

NSP: What's surprised you most about what following your passion has brought you?

LW: What surprised me most is understanding that one person can make a difference and beat the odds. My most favorite story is about two kids: Golfer Francis Ouimet and his 10-year-old caddy, Eddie Lowry. It's a story about bravery and courage and beating the odds when they are stacked against you. They went on to win the 1913 U.S. Open - that's incredible!

More personally, Kids Against Animal Cruelty is now a national movement and has assisted in saving thousands of lives. We have chapters in 15 states run by kids/teens. We are making a difference for shelter animals.

NSP: What are you most proud of?

LW: I am most proud of my 15 state chapter presidents. They are kids/teens who are dedicated and passionate about saving the lives of shelter animals in the states they represent. Also, I was recently appointed as the American Humane Association's National Youth Ambassador.

And I'm very proud that Kids Against Animal Cruelty is represented by organizations and companies that support and have faith in what we do: Subaru, ASPCA, The Humane Society of the U.S., Best Friends Animal Society Los Angeles, Pet Philanthropy Circle, Pilots and Paws, The Onyx and Breezy Foundation, and the American Humane Association.

NSP: Do you have anything to say to others about the value of following their own dreams? Any advice on to how get started?

LW: My advice is to always believe in yourself. I didn't realize until I stood on a street corner holding a sign for people to please adopt from a shelter, that one day I would be on CNN talking about how I got started. Always believe.

Lou can be reached at louwegner@yahoo.com and on Facebook at Kids Against Animal Cruelty. Website: www.kidsagainstanimalcruelty.org

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Lou Wegner: Kids Against Animal Cruelty - North State Parent magazine

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18-year-old actor and activist Lou Wegner is the founder of the national movement Kids Against Animal Cruelty. He currently lives and works in Southern California. NSP: What you are most passionate about? LW: I am most passionate about spreading awareness to my generation to be pet-responsible.

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Home & Family - Youth Actor and Animal Activist Lou Wegner

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Malala Fund launches Girls' Vision for Education 

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Malala Fund launches Girls' Vision for Education 

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Today, 88 million girls are out of secondary school, and millions more are not receiving an education that equips them with the basic knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Gender inequality in education still pervades in lower-income countries, and too many girls face discrimination and abuse in school. Unsafe routes to and from school are some of the primary drivers of girls' dropout: an estimated 60 million girls experience sexual assault on their way to school each year.

To understand what girls need for their education, we asked them. Through our Girls' Vision for Education consultation, more than 800 girls in 30 low- and middle-income countries shared their needs, priorities and ambitions for education with us. Ahead of this year's 69th U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), Malala Fund is launching the findings and laying out actions for global decision-makers in Girls' Vision for Education: Delivering on girls' needs and priorities for education.

Girls know exactly what they want from their education - governments and global institutions must listen to them, act to advance gender equality in schools and realise the right to secondary education for all girls.

Our vision of education allows girls to have a better quality of life, respect, be prepared for more things and discover their place in the world. - Vision statement from workshop with girls under 13 who are in school in Brazil.

Through Girls' Vision for Education, we heard that:

1. Girls want an education that supports their independence and empowerment. They seek to gain knowledge, skills and opportunities through education to help them be independent and confident and drive change in society.

2. Girls want to learn in schools fit for the 21st century where they receive respect. They envision an education that is free from discrimination, supports their creative expression and offers opportunities to learn topics that interest them and equip them to actively participate in social, economic and political life.

3. Girls want governments to deliver on promises to reduce barriers to their education. Governments should prioritise action to tackle financial barriers, gender-based violence and inadequate menstrual health and hygiene provisions that prevent girls from accessing and completing school.

Next week, Malala Fund will head to - the annual review of progress on girls and women's rights - to share the Girls' Vision for Education with young women, partners and other important stakeholders. CSW69 marks an important moment in this year's milestone reviews of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, key global frameworks for measuring gender equality in education.

With only five years left before the SDG deadline, the promise of 12 years of free, safe, quality education for all girls feels increasingly out of reach. Progress on gender equality indicators has stagnated or declined in nearly 40% of countries, home to 1 billion girls and women.

At the 2021 Generation Equality Forum, we committed to working directly with girls to articulate a new vision for education grounded in their needs, rights and priorities to build awareness of girls' perspectives in global policy forums. We took this commitment forward through the Girls' Vision consultation process, prioritising the voices of marginalised girls and partnering with girls throughout the process.

My dream about education will give girls the opportunity to seize their rights, to be good parents for their children, and something to be proud of for the community. - Vision statement from workshop with 14-16 year olds who are out of school in Nigeria.

Governments and international institutions are falling short of their commitments to girls and must take action to improve girls' access to education. These powerful actors should also make space for girls in national and global decision-making processes relating to education, and resource girls who are driving change.

Find out what girls shared, how global decision-makers can deliver on girls' needs and Malala Fund's efforts to unlock resources for girls' education in our report. A short summary of the report is also available here.

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Malala Fund launches Girls' Vision for Education | Malala Fund

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Over 800 girls from around the world told us what they want from their education - our Girls' Vision for Education report shares the findings and outlines actions for global decision-makers.

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The effects of social media on teens' mental health 

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The effects of social media on teens' mental health 

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American Black Journal
Clip: Season 51 Episode 41 | 6m 44s |

From Twitter to Instagram and now TikTok, social media use by teens is widespread. What impact is it having on their mental health? Former One Detroit summer intern Zion Williams talks with three of her high school friends, as well as mental health experts across Michigan, about how social media can affect teens' developing minds and how parents can monitor their children's well-being and online h

Aired: 10/11/23

Rating: NR

Problems Playing Video? Report a Problem |

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American Black Journal | The effects of social media on teens' mental health | Season 51 | Episode 41 | PBS

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How does social media effect teens' mental health? Zion Williams searches for the answers.